Columbus Blue Jackets president of hockey operations John Davidson waited patiently for GM Jarmo Kekalainen to finish a standard response to a question about managerial concerns, leaned forward and said nonchalantly but assuredly, "I think we have more depth now than we've ever had."
Contrast this with John Tortorella saying just minutes later that it wasn't a threat that Josh Anderson not being in camp could cost him his job, and it's not hard to imagine a scenario in which the Blue Jackets look to test their depth from the very beginning of training camp.
In a largely by-the-book media day, those two quotes stood out.
The Blue Jackets' history is littered with players who make the club far before they're ready, too unskilled to cut it in the NHL, or a combination of the two. For perhaps the first time, this organization boasts talent throughout the organization that could and would make the temporary absence of Anderson, while not ideal, at least tolerable.
And know this: there are players ready and itching to take Anderson's spot.
But even if Anderson does come to camp, it's an interesting situation to examine, especially now that the Traverse City tournament is in the rear-view mirror.
First, some ground rules: let's assume Oliver Bjorkstrand and Pierre-Luc Dubois do what many thought they would do a year ago, which is make the big club, permanently, out of training camp. Let's also assume Brandon Dubinsky is ready. That leaves 10 forwards (Panarin, Wennberg, Atkinson, Jenner, Dubinsky, Bjorkstrand, Foligno, Dubois, Calvert, Sedlak), but 3-4 roster spots open on the 23-man roster.
Who should be ready and hungry to show well in camp?
Sonny Milano
Milano could certainly use a break, such as (just a for instance) Anderson holding out and not reporting to camp. He led the Cleveland Monsters (AHL) in scoring a year ago, but hasn't yet shown the high-end offensive ability that many expected in his draft year. He could be an effective player in the NHL, but it's hard to see him playing in a top-six capacity on this roster, and even harder to envision him in a fourth line role.
Tyler Motte
Motte could surprise some people at camp. This is a guy who, just a season ago, played with Artemi Panarin and Patrick Kane for a period of time and also alongside Marian Hossa and Jonathan Toews. It didn't last as he played only 33 games with the club before a demotion to the AHL, but Motte is a versatile player who can play wing and center and move up and down the lineup.
Markus Hannikainen
Okay, so the 24-year old Finn isn't the flashy new kid on the block that many fans crave to see, but he's proven to be a steady and reliable player for the club. Remember, the Blue Jackets lost a key penalty killer when William Karlsson was selected by Vegas in the expansion draft, and Hannikainen's solid two-way play could make him a safe option for a coaching staff looking to fill out its roster.
Honorable Mention: Sam Vigneault, Paul Bittner, Zac Dalpe, Calvin Thurkauf
