Michael Chaput: Front and center as candidate to make Jackets roster
When is a hockey player ready for the NHL?
For the Columbus Blue Jackets, the answer lies within the player and for one of the Jackets' prospects, 22-year-old Michael Chaput, 2014 may be the year he proves his case to be on the NHL club's roster.
"You have to be persistent. It doesn't happen that you just walk into this league," said Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen. "(For Chaput) the NHL is his goal and that's how he's working and that's how he's approaching the competition in training camp."
Chaput's NHL journey started in Philadelphia. The Flyers drafted him 89th overall in 2010 and then traded him to the Jackets in February 2011. For the Quebec native, the trade was just part of the business of hockey and he continued to focus on his play in the QMJHL. It was there, as a member of the Shawinigan Cataractes, that the 6-foot-2 center started learning lessons that became foundations of his game.
In 2012, Shawinigan hosted the Memorial Cup - the CHL championship tournament that invites the champions of each of the major leagues of the CHL. The Cataractes had lost in the quarterfinals of the QMJHL tournament and had a spot in the Cup tournament only by virtue of being the host team.
"We had lost (the QMJHL tournament), and going into the Memorial Cup we weren't champions or anything but hard work is what I think made the difference," Chaput said. "For a month prior to the Cup we had what was basically another training camp where we just didn't stop working."
The hard work paid off. Shawinigan would go on to win the Memorial Cup and become just the ninth host team to ever win the championship and the first team ever to eliminate all three league champions in consecutive games. Chaput was named tournament MVP.
"That tournament taught me that every time I go out on the ice now I'm going to work as hard as I can and try to be the best player I can on the ice," Chaput said.
After Shawinigan, Chaput headed to the AHL and played for Columbus' affiliate, the Springfield Falcons, for the 2012-13 season. The NHL was in the midst of a labor dispute leaving a lot of younger NHL players to play in the AHL. For Chaput, it was one more opportunity to learn what it was going to take to make it to the big leagues.
"There were a lot of good NHL players in the (AHL) and that helped me grow as a player," Chaput said. "You see what those guys do, you see how they prepare, how they treat every day at practice and how they work out."
In his second year with the Falcons, Chaput's playing time increased and he was points leader and goals leader for the team (19-26-45). His performance brought him notice from the Jackets. Chaput joined the big club for 17 games where he averaged just under nine minutes per game and was 42 of 96 in the face-off circle.
"Chaput had a good audition here with 17 games last year," said Kekalainen. "He's been building himself to the next level and he has had a very good offseason - he's stronger, he's quicker and he's playing with a lot of confidence because of it."
This fall, Chaput came to Columbus ready to make an impact. Having played with the Jackets last season, he had earned respect from the team, and now was able to fully focus on his game.
"When you play your first games in the NHL I feel like maybe there's that surreal feeling that you see all those players," Chaput said. "But now that I've played those games and gotten that experience, I'm on the ice and it's my turn. I'll play my game and not get distracted by all that."
And play he has. Chaput took part in seven of eight of the Jackets' preseason games. Kekalainen acknowledged Chaput didn't take part in all eight only due to scheduling as two games were played on the same day.
"We want to take a good look at him," Kekalainen said. "I think he's a guy that can play many roles. I think he's got skill. He can check, he's reliable defensively, he kills penalties, and he wins face-offs - he's done everything right for a young player."
Chaput had four points in preseason games (2-2-4). His two goals were game winners. He's focused on playing a two-way game and continuing to learn, mentioning Jackets forwards Matt Calvert, Nick Foligno and Mark Letestu as just some of the players who have helped him and given advice.
"A lot of guys give the young guys tips about how to do stuff and how to prepare for games," Chaput said. "They've helped me know what to do, what not to do and little things that will help you get along and do your own thing."
Now the preseason schedule has concluded and training camp is winding down. The Blue Jackets will need to trim their roster one last time to get to the league mandated 23 players by Oct 7. Chaput says he worked as hard as he could and gave it all he's got. He must now wait to see if his name appears on the final Columbus roster.
"I try to keep it out of my mind, sometimes I think about it," Chaput said. "There's a few spots on the team there's a few guys left and your just try not to get too stressed out and you're hoping - we'll see what happens."
The Blue Jackets regular season begins Thursday, Oct. 9 against the Buffalo Sabres. The team opens its home campaign Saturday, Oct 11. Both games start at 7 p.m. For more information on tickets call (800) NHL-COLS or visit BlueJackets.com.
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