Cam Atkinson is an envelope-pusher.
Not tall enough. Not strong enough. Not good enough.
All he did was set goal-scoring records at Boston College, only to have those same things he was told as a young hockey player rear their heads again during his NHL Draft year. Atkinson fell to the Blue Jackets in the sixth round. He's now 29 years old, about to enter his eighth NHL season (which is hard to believe) and has continued to get better and earn his keep.
Is it time for Atkinson to assume another role, as well?
The new dad is one of the oldest and most experienced players on what's again a young Blue Jackets team. He's a leader – on and off the ice – the latter exhibited by his investment in the development of youth hockey in the community as a partner with Battery Hockey Academy.
The Blue Jackets should seriously consider giving Atkinson an "A" for the coming season, joining Boone Jenner and Seth Jones alongside captain Nick Foligno. It doesn't matter that Jack Johnson is gone and Brandon Dubinsky lost his "A" early last season, this is more so about Atkinson – a player who has found a way every season to make a positive impact on the Blue Jackets, and represent them on some of the NHL's biggest stages (like the NHL All-Star Game).
What he's done on the ice is impressive: five of Atkinson's seven NHL seasons have produced 20-plus goals (including a career-best of 35 in 2016-17), and in the other two seasons, he was at or near a 20-goal pace.
And then, there's the other commitment.
(Before you go a step further, understand that I'm aware money talks and all that).
Atkinson could have gone to free agency this summer with those credentials under his belt and absolutely cashed in. Could he have gotten $6 million, maybe more, with another team? It's likely. Instead, he locked himself into Columbus with a seven-year deal worth $5.85 million annually, making the Blue Jackets and this city his home.
The Atkinsons live in Columbus year-round – Cam, his wife Natalie and son Declan – and it's abundantly clear that Dad wants to be here and wants to win here. He's seen the good, the bad, and the abysmal...and now, has earned the trust of head coach John Tortorella to get the big minutes on a nightly basis.
It makes a ton of sense for Atkinson to formally join the Blue Jackets' leadership group. His actions are all the evidence needed.
