TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. ― They play in different leagues, but Blue Jackets prospects Denton Mateychuk and Jordan Dumais are in the same boat.
Mateychuk and Dumais , both part of the Blue Jackets' roster at the 2023 Traverse City NHL Prospects Tournament this week, are 19-year prospects who would likely benefit from playing in the American Hockey League this season. Instead, it's either NHL or a return to juniors for both because of a long-standing age agreement between the NHL and Canadian Hockey League, the governing body of Canada's three top junior circuits.
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Canadian junior players under 20 are not allowed to play anywhere but the NHL or with their junior teams.
One glance at the Blue Jackets' depth chart shows neither has good odds of making the NHL roster during a training camp that starts next week, so both will likely be challenged to find new motivations in the Western Hockey League (Mateychuk) and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (Dumais).
"I want to be playing at the highest level possible and that's not really an option right now, so I just try not to think about it too much and make the best of it," Mateychuk said. "I got into the (WHL) pretty young, so that's a bonus to play lots of junior games for quite a few years."
Mateychuk, selected 12 th overall in the 2022 NHL draft , has played the past two seasons in the WHL with the Moosejaw Warriors and played a limited number of games from 2019-2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Dumais, selected in the third round of the 2022 draft , will play his fourth season for the Halifax Mooseheads if he isn't in Columbus.
"There's always things to improve on," Dumais said. "Wherever I play, I'm going to try to find ways to get better, whether it's practice or games. I just know I'm going to find a way to improve, so I'm going to do whatever I can wherever I am."
Mateychuk, an undersized defenseman with elite skating, didn't have quite the same impact last season as he did in his draft year. His statistical output, however, was nearly identical.
After attracting the Blue Jackets' attention in 2021-22 with 13 goals, 51 assists and 61 points in 65 games, Mateychuk finished last season with 8-57-65 in 63 games while adding the captain's 'C' to his jersey.
There's not a lot left for Mateychuk to prove in the WHL, but the Blue Jackets' front office wants him to add strength and bulk to his 5-foot-11 frame. He took care of that during the first two months of the offseason, showing up to the Jackets' development camp in July about 15 pounds heavier than his listed playing weight of 187 pounds last season.
Mateychuk's goal for playing weight is 200 pounds.
"That's right where I want to be," he said. "I'm still getting used to it a little bit. I've been digging (into the ice) a little bit more with the extra weight, so it's just something you've got to get used to … and the more I skate, the better I feel with it."
Mateychuk's other big goal is making Canada's roster for the 2024 world junior championship. He didn't make the cut last year and watched peers from the 2022 draft class win the gold medal.
"It stung a little bit, but I did all I could," Mateychuk said. "We had a (world junior) camp and I thought I showed what I can bring to the table. I don't have any regrets with how I played, but it's definitely a big motivator. You want to show them that you're ready to take on that role (for Canada) and be a contributing factor."
Dumais will also be using Canada's world junior selection process as a motivational tool. That plus the opportunity to help Halifax win the QMJHL championship for a shot to play in the prestigious Memorial Cup tournament are his primary carrots.
His point total, after racking up 140 points on 54 goals and 86 assists last season, won't be something Dumais watches as closely this time. He also topped 100 points in his draft year (2021-22) with 39-70-109, has 103-175-278 in 172 career QMJHL games and finished second only to Connor Bedard in scoring last year among all three CHL junior leagues.
Lighting up the scoreboard in juniors isn't a challenge.
"Points and all that, I think I'm a bit over it," Dumais said. "People know I can put up points, so now I think it's all about winning. I have a lot of things to prove still in juniors and my goal is to win. We came close last year, but it wasn't good enough. So, that will be my main goal if I go back."
Dumais and Mateychuk both make sure to include "if" as a qualifier when talking about the upcoming season.
They'll focus on developing in juniors "if" they don't make the Blue Jackets' roster, because there's still a small chance one or both will make it. They'll also take confidence back to their junior teams "if" it doesn't work out.
"Throughout the year, you set goals for yourself, including the offseason," Mateychuk said. "You want to get better every day and take the right steps toward getting to that next level. That's where my focus will be."
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It's also important to enjoy the journey.
"Being this young, it goes by quickly," Dumais said. "I'll probably realize that more when I get older, but I'm just trying to have fun and do my best to reach my full potential."
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Mateychuk, Dumais ready for Columbus Blue Jackets waiting game
