Quest for the Cup: Jackets won't let challenges stop them from building winning culture
Adversity. The mere mention of the word can conjure trepidation among the weak. Many teams experience some form of adversity every year. Some adapt and forge their way through it, while others let that adversity define their season.
Adversity has almost become part of the norm in Columbus. Last year, the Blue Jackets had various players out of the lineup with different injuries for extended periods of time. Their youth and inexperience led to a rollercoaster ride of play at the beginning of the season. It was a steady uphill climb to get out of that hole.
Adversity took up residence, once again this year. Ryan Johansen will have had two practices with the team after finally signing a contract with the organization. Nathan Horton (back), Brandon Dubinsky (abdomen), Boone Jenner (hand), Ryan Murray (knee) and Brian Gibbons (undisclosed injury) are all starting the season on Injured Reserve.
"It's part of hockey, unfortunately," said forward Nick Foligno. "But, that's what tests your depth in the NHL and we have unbelievable depth on this team. I expect no excuses and for us to work just as hard with guys stepping up into the roles they are put in, myself included.
"We're looking forward to the opportunity. We can't wait to get those guys back, as they're a big part of our team. But, we know that we can hold the fort down until they do."
For them, it all starts Thursday night in Buffalo, as they open their new season against the Sabres. Despite the list of walking wounded, there is excitement to get the season going.
"We're excited to play some games that actually mean something," said defenseman Jack Johnson. "We also appreciate the preparation time (of training camp) going into the first game."
That excitement has led to a team that is focused, yet relaxed. The guys are having fun. This is why they come to the rink. They are a family that welcomed a few new faces into the dressing room this year. Rookies Michael Chaput, Alex Wennberg and Marko Dano, veteran Scott Hartnell and getting reacquainted with Jack Skille, all fit right into the very fiber of this team.
Being relaxed with the new guys on the roster is also a byproduct of the shared experiences and familiarity of the rest of the guys on the team.
"Yes, but there's also no reason to be uptight," said Johnson. "I'm glad guys are relaxed. You usually play better when you're not uptight or thinking too much. We'll get a little more tense (today) but that's just the usual first game anxiousness and jitters."
Foligno expanded on what Johnson said: "I think we're definitely ready. We've had a hard training camp and put in a solid three weeks of work. I think that every guy is excited to battle for the first game. Let's put all of our hard work to use. We're excited to get going."
The defensive side of the team is a bit more stable, injury-wise. With Ryan Murray on IR, Tim Erixon will start with Cody Goloubef as the seventh D-man.
"All of us have played with each other, at some point," said Johnson. "I don't think there's anybody I haven't played with now. I mean, they're (defensive pairings) solidified right now, but things can change. It doesn't matter who we play with, it's solid no matter what."
Many credit President of Hockey Operations John Davidson with changing the culture on the team. But, ground zero for this culture change can be traced back to Feb. 23, 2012. That was the day that Jack Johnson was traded to Columbus from Los Angeles.
By saying and doing all the right things from literally the moment he was traded, he endeared himself to the fans. I asked him if he took pride in helping to change the culture within the room.
"I don't know how much of an impact I had on it. (He contemplated this momentarily) Yeah, I do take pride in it. I take pride in the fact that I never wavered from it, nor would I have.
"Now, it's not just me, or a couple of guys, saying it. Everyone believes it. That's the way it has to be moving forward and that's that way it will be moving forward. Because, that's the only way you're going to win."
They have a devil-may-care, "it's us against the world" mentality. They relish the fact that they have to continually prove everyone wrong and change the perception of the team outside of the fervent fan base.
"I think there's a fine line between cocky and confident," said Johnson. "I think a successful team has to have that confidence and expectations (of winning). As long as your team has high expectations, it drives you and pushes you beyond maybe what everyone else's expectations are for you.
"It's the difference between going into the game expecting to win versus hoping to win. That's a world of difference. That's what makes great teams. You have to establish a culture or an aura about yourself."
He cited another successful team as an example.
"It's kind of like what the (Detroit) Red Wings have had the last twenty years. Winning breeds that. You can sense it from the team when they're walking off the bus. It doesn't happen overnight. It takes time. But, once it happens, it's pretty awesome."
They are learning to walk that fine line between cockiness and having a confidence about them that they can accomplish what they are setting out to do.
"I think that all great teams have that," Johnson said. "Even when things don't go well, they still have that confident swagger that's going to bounce back and still win the game. I think that our team is going in the right direction, absolutely."
The NHL is all about results. They know what they accomplished last year and to them, it wasn't good enough. The pundits are already writing Columbus out of the playoff picture before the first puck is dropped on the season, based on the injuries. But, this team is so much more than its individual parts.
"That's what we have to prove," Foligno concluded. "We've done it before by building our identity. Now we have to go out and continue to do that. That's what makes a good team great. The naysayers may say what they want, but we have a belief in this room. We have to go out there and perform. It's going to start with Game 1 and continue through all 82, the playoffs and hopefully the Stanley Cup."
They believe they can do it. The question now is, do you?
