Judging from comments made Blue Jackets coach Todd Richards, it appears as though Cam Atkinson won't be one of the players returning to the Springfield Falcons prior to the start of the NHL season.
Cam Atkinson, right, appears destined to open the NHL season as a Columbus Blue Jacket.
Judging from comments made Wednesday by Columbus Blue Jackets coach Todd Richards, it appears as though Cam Atkinson won't be one of the players returning to the Springfield Falcons prior to the start of the NHL season.
Atkinson missed Wednesday's Blue Jackets practice with what Richards deemed a "minor lower body issue." When asked if he was concerned that Atkinson could miss Saturday's regular-season opener at Nashville, Richards did not say anything concrete.
On the Blue Jackets' official Web site, Richards is quoted as saying:
"He'll come in tomorrow, we'll re-assess, and see where he's at. I'm sure there's other teams dealing with similar issues whether it's minor or major. If you're out an extended period of time, you're going to miss a good amount of games."
However, it certainly seems as though Atkinson, the Boston College product who had 17 goals and 21 assists in 33 games with the Falcons, will at least be on the Blue Jackets' roster when camp breaks.
Said Richards, according to the Columbus Dispatch:
"I wouldn’t say (I'm) concerned. I guess there’s possibilities in anything, whether he’s in or he’s out (of the lineup). But right now I’m not concerned."
Atkinson and defenseman John Moore were the first two Falcons called up by Columbus in anticipation of the opening of training camp following the end of the NHL lockout. On Friday, they were summoned and had to drive from Springfield to Columbus.
Later Friday, following the Falcons' game at Worcester, forwards Ryan Johansen and Matt Calvert and defensemen Tim Erixon and David Savard joined them in camp, which began Sunday.
On Wednesday, Calvert scored a goal for the White team in a 2-1 win over the Blue team in an intrasquad scrimmage, while Johansen centered a line with veterans Mark Letestu and Vinny Prospal during power-play drills.
Erixon and Savard were teamed together as a defensive pairing Wednesday, as they were at the start of camp, while Moore was partnered with veteran Adrian Aucoin.
Falcons president and general manager Bruce Landon said Saturday that he expects to find out Thursday who will be sticking with the Blue Jackets and who will be returning to Springfield.
The Dispatch reports that Columbus hopes to be down to its 23-man roster limit by the end of Thursday's practice, rather than wait until the 3 p.m. deadline. The Blue Jackets must make two cuts.