Reporter: “Do you prefer Gordon or Gordie?”

Chimera: “Mr. Howe would be fine.”

How can you not love that guy? Chimera is such an important part of the Blue Jackets. When Hitchcock took over last season he sat all the players down and gave them specific rolls. Hitch told Chimera…that everyone has to check and everyone has to score. Also, when Hitchcock got here Chimera’s all around performance improved.

Chimera had two goals, four assists and a minus-5 rating in 20 games before Hitchcock was hired last season. In 62 games under Hitchcock, he had 13 goals, 17 assists and a plus-7 rating.

Pretty impressive. During training camp Chimera has been on a line with Jakub Voracek and Derick Brasard. Hitch wants him used to scoring goals.

“Jason has always been an elite skater,” Hitchcock said. “If not the best skater in the league, he’s one of the top two or three. He’d get going so fast that it was hard to make plays. Well, his mind has now caught up with his legs, and he’s able to think on the ice.”

Also, on the camp front after reading Portzline’s blog apparently Shelley is taking on a leadership role (which I have talked about before) telling one of the younger campers to get his act together.

Camper of the day: Jody Shelley. I won’t tell you who, but Shelley strongly, professionally and bluntly corrected a young player for leaving the ice too early after Wednesday’s practice. Big No. 45 said his peace and moved on. No hard feelings, no discussion needed. That, friends, is leadership. This, friends, is a new era.

Jody Shelley according to Portzline at least would be the captain of the Blue Jackets if he wasn’t a fourth line winger.

“My focus is to be successful offensively, your best players have to have the puck more,” Hitchcock said. “This is an opportunity for him to have the puck more. Regardless of who plays centre ice, whether it’s Vyborny or him or whatever, or if we decide to go with (Sergei) Fedorov or (Michael) Peca there, we want people to play together that are creative.”

Training camp opens tomorrow without Alexandre Picard and Zenon Konopka. And, the pre-season begins on Sunday playing the Nashville Predators.

I will be posting about hockey now…because I need to get my mind off of things. Apparently, we have a brighter dressing room now because there are new lights and because guys seem to have hope now. Original Jacket David Vyborny said:

“It’s real now,” said right winger David Vyborny, who has been with the team
from the start. “It feels real.”

Short and to the point but you know how it feels any Jacket fan knows exactly how it feels. We finally have the potential to do something. We have a General Manager who is willing to let our young players mature. We have a coach who won’t settle for anything except excellence. Us fans are ready for it. We want to win. We want our boys to win. We want to know what it feels like to watch your team play in May. But, we know that won’t happen this year…at least I don’t think.

“The general feeling is that we can’t wait to get started,” Tollefsen said.
“That’s why everybody’s here so far before training camp. We have lots to
prove.”

As far as the Super Series goes…Stefan Legein played amazing so has goaltender Steve Mason.

Right winger Stefan Legein, the Blue Jackets’ second-round pick (No. 37) in
June, has played on a checking line and on Canada’s top penalty-killing unit. He
also has scored three goals.
“Stefan has played his style,” Howson said.
“He’s been gritty, high energy. … He’s brought a lot to the team.”

I am really excited to see what goes on at training camp. It should be amazing…we have talent coming up quick. Let’s hope that this season turns out well and that we will prove that we’re not bottom feeders. Speaking of training camp, the Blue Jackets will get their first look at Voracek!! His coach told the Dispatch this,

“The first thing you appreciate as a coach is that he never takes a night off,”
Russell said. People say that about a lot of guys, but it’s the dead-on
truth about Jakub. I’ve asked him who he wants to play with (on his line), and
he refuses to give me names. He says, ‘I don’t care who I play with. You coach,
I play.’ “

While it is highly unlikely that Voracek will make the big show this season Howson isn’t ruling it out saying like he always does that everyone has a chance at training camp.

“I don’t rule anybody out from making the team,” Howson said. “Jakub will be
given every opportunity. But we’re not going to keep him (on the Blue Jackets)
to play 40 games. We’re not going to keep him up here to play on the fourth
line. He’s either going to be one of our best top-end players, or he’ll go back
to junior and have a great season. Either way, his future is extremely
bright.”

I personally am content with letting him do what he does in junior and get him when we can. He seems to have a lot of potential although I was re-watching the draft and TSN said that Jakub was one of the most NHL ready of all the boys.

Sources tell TSN Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mark Bell has been suspended indefinitely without pay after being placed into stage two of the NHL’s substance abuse program.
In order to be reinstated, Bell will require the recommendation of program doctors along with the approval of both the National Hockey League and the NHLPA.