Columbus -- Blue Jackets head coach Todd Richards is ready to see if the players will respond to his challenge of getting faster. With a host of prospects, including three first-round draft picks from last year, suiting up for tonight's tilt versus the St. Louis Blues, it's time for the guys to show what they've got.
"It wasn't intentionally done, thinking I had to get all three of these guys in the same game," Richards said of Alex Wennberg, Kerby Rychel and Marko Dano. "It just worked out that way."
Richards wants to see the young guys on the ice in different situations. Some line juggling may occur, just to see how they react.
"We're going to have to see how these guys play", Richards said. "It's different than Traverse City. You're playing against men now. And it's a chance for us to see the guys play with NHL players."
He thinks that training camp is all about opportunities for the players. Whether that's putting guys in different roles and situations or the opportunity for a player to really stand out from the rest.
"The lines may get shifted," he said, "Just giving guys opportunities. That's what training camp is about. These are early games with a lot of young players here. Give them some ice time, put them in some situations and see how they handle it."
Murray Update
Second-year defenseman Ryan Murray was skating today with the non-game players, including contact. Murray, still feeling some lingering knee soreness, is getting closer to full practice with the team, although there is still no timetable for that.
"He's out skating today," said Richards. "It's day-to-day. We're just being overly cautious." Asked about contact drills while on the ice, Richards said, "Yeah, he was doing some bumping."
Horton Update
Forward Nathan Horton, still with a lingering back issue, has yet to practice with the team. Richards acknowledged that he gets daily updates on Horton's condition and said, "It's day-to-day. I listen to what (GM) Jarmo (Kekalainen) says and it's exactly that (day-to-day). He's getting better every day."
Roster Trimming
Richards said he expects the first roster cuts to happen on Wednesday after the third preseason game. Wednesday is an off day for the Blue Jackets.
