Columbus, OH -- On July 1, 2014, right wing Jerry D'Amigo's world took a turn towards Ohio. On that day, he was traded to the Blue Jackets by the Toronto Maple Leafs along with a 7th round pick in the 2015 Draft for forward Matt Frattin.
D'Amigo, from Binghamton, New York, was drafted by the Maple Leafs in the 2009 Entry Draft (round 6, 158 overall). Prior to being drafted he spent three years with the USNTDP U-18 team. He helped the United States team win gold medals in the 2009 WJC18 and the 2010 WJC and a bronze medal in the 2011 WJC.
He spent the 2009-10 season playing for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. That year, he finished fifth nationally in PPG by a rookie with 0.97 and was named ECAC Rookie of the Year in 2009. Leaving RPI after one year, D'Amigo played for the Toronto Marlies (AHL and the Kitchener Rangers (OHL) in 2010-11.
On July 29, he signed a one year, two-way contract with Columbus and he'll be a restricted free agent in 2015. He's fighting for a spot on the roster amid some fierce competition. As of today, he's survived the first two rounds of cuts to the training camp roster. Being a sound two-way player, he fits the mold of what the Blue Jackets are looking for in players.
With so few roster spots available, players have been doing their best to make an impression on the coaching staff and management in the hopes of sticking around Columbus.
"I think I have to add a little extra", said D'Amigo. "As each day goes by in camp, you want to improve your skate shape. Obviously, you are getting used to the guys when you're coming in new. You want to make a good impression and I think I've got a lot more to give and a lot more to show."
"I think in the first couple of days, I was kind of tip-toeing in and not really showing my stuff. In the exhibition game (earlier last week), I kind of played averagely and I think I have a lot more to prove and a lot more to show the coaching staff."
Coming from what some would call the Mecca of the hockey world, D'Amigo is not under the "all-hockey, all-the-time" microscope that surrounds the Maple Leafs organization. There is a palpable difference between the two hockey cities.
"The only difference I feel is the pressure", he said. "There (Toronto), you got all the cameras on you and everything is very magnified to an extent where it's almost 'do or die'. And here, I don't want to say that it's relaxed, but there's a goal in mind and you don't have to worry about outside things coming in. You just worry about focusing on your team and you're not worried about the media. You just worry about yourself and what you have to do for the team and for each other. It's a lot different."
"There, it's hockey, hockey, hockey", he continued. "I'm not saying that Columbus isn't the same, but it's a lot more magnified than here."
While under that microscope of wall-to-wall media coverage, a young player can lose focus very easily and be intimidated. D'Amigo managed to get through the first few years there and gradually became more comfortable in his surroundings, which made him stronger. But those first few years...
"A little bit," he said, "but I remember my first couple of years it was just nerves. I mean you have to deal with everything (in Toronto). And sometimes it can be overwhelming. My first two training camps, that's just what it was and you have to learn to deal with it. My next two training camps, I learned from it. You get better because of it."
"I'm a better player and person from that experience. You grow into a new player and person that can handle those things. It comes easy to me now. I feel like I'm one step ahead from the guy next to me."
Although Toronto is 180 miles closer to his family, he knows that the trip is not a long one to get to Columbus, taking just over 7.5 hours by car. Family is an important part of life for him and having them relatively close is a good thing
"Yeah," he said, "I mean I played college hockey at RPI (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY) and they were two hours away. Having your family there is just that comfort level of 'hey, you guys want to come to the game?' It's good to see fresh faces that you know and take them out to dinner. It gives you that 'home' feeling and that comfort."
"I remember when I was younger and I was away from home, I was homesick. Seeing my family was a lifesaver. Not to say that I'm missing home or anything, but it's good to see your family and friends when they can come to your games and enjoy watching you play. Instead of watching it on the television like they normally do."
Unlike in years past, when Columbus had a reputation that wasn't all that endearing, players see opportunity with the Blue Jackets as an up-and-coming, young team in the NHL. Players want to come here and be a part of making the club into a winning franchise. In essence, they want to be one of the "bricks" that President of Hockey Operations John Davidson laid down just a scant two years ago.
"It's great", D'Amigo said. "I mean, you never want to come into a team that's on a down-slope and had a rough year. You want positive vibes, and those vibes lead to good things in the future. I think that's what they have here, and that's good to come into."
"If you're coming into an organization where they had a bad season last year and they're trying to prove something, with a lot of negativity around, you don't want that. That affects the players, the coaches, the management and everything."
"Here, it's just one of those things where you're here with the guys and everybody is positive. They look for the positives and they want and are expecting success. You want that in an organization. You want to win. You never want to have a losing season and you never want to lose a championship game."
Coming into a new team and meeting new faces would be deemed daunting by many people. Not so with hockey, as many of the players know each other and it really is one big family. They look out for each other in whichever city they may be in. How is he fitting in with the Blue Jackets?
"Good", he said. "I mean, it's funny that you say that because people back home ask me 'is it going to be hard meeting new people?' and I'm like 'no'. The hockey world is different. They see new guys and they bring them in like they're one of their own."
"I think that's what these guys have done here. I've done that in the past in Toronto. You see new guys that get traded or are a free agent signing or something like that, you always take them in under your wing and show them around the city and that kind of stuff."
"And that's what they did. You kind of feel like it's an omen. That's how we are. We're a family and we're going to be battling for spots, but we're going to be teammates throughout the year. That's the life of hockey players."
Although his chances of making the opening night roster hinge on many things, if he's sent down to Springfield, there's a very good chance you'll see him back in Columbus in the event of the inevitable injuries.
But in his short time here, he's taken a shine to the Arch City. "I love it", D'Amigo said. "You get that college 'feel' with Ohio State (University) here. You also get kind of a 'smaller-big city' feel with the downtown area."
"It's clean, it's fresh. You can see the excitement of having sports teams here. That just brings positive vibes to a city and it makes you want to play here and it makes you want to be here. I have nothing but good things to say about it right now."
