Story by
Carson Meyer's NHL debut top list of Blue Jackets lineup changes
- Story by
- Carson Meyer's NHL debut top list of Blue Jackets lineup changes
This time, Carson Meyer isn't with the Blue Jackets as a "game time" contingency.
After walking into the Blue Jackets' locker room Monday at Nationwide Arena, a day after being recalled from the Cleveland Monsters, Meyer saw his name in the lineup against the Boston Bruins . It was the culmination of a journey that's taken Meyer, 24, from Powell to the NHL via stints with the Ohio AAA Blue Jackets youth program, Miami University, Ohio State and the American Hockey League with Cleveland .
Advertisement
"You're going to be happy no matter where your first game is, but it's just that much more special at the rink I grew up coming to and cheering on the Blue Jackets," Meyer said, after skating with the team's fourth forward line at the morning skate. "I've come to so many games with my dad here, and now my dad's going to be in the stands along with ... I don't even know how many family members are going to try and come. They're all going to get to watch me tonight and it's hard to put into words."
Ed Gingher, president of the Ohio AAA Blue Jackets, will also be watching.
Gingher coached Meyer along with six other program alums who've made it to the NHL, including Blue Jackets forwards Sean Kuraly and Jack Roslovic. Meyer is also the fourth AAA Blue Jackets alum to play for the Blue Jackets , joining Roslovic, Kuraly and former Columbus forward Kole Sherwood.
"I think it's pretty incredible that there's now three of us from the same youth organization on the same team here in the NHL, and I think it's just kind of a testament to what Ed Gingher's done with the program," Meyer said. "Hopefully he's on the glass, so he can see us in warmups. I think we're going to try and get a picture before the game, all three of us together, because I'm not sure if something like this will ever happen again. … It's pretty special."
Advertisement
Meyer has spent most of this season in Cleveland, where he had 16 goals, 11 assists, 27 points and 63 penalty minutes in 57 games. His only prior NHL experience was in preseason games plus an emergency recall by the Blue Jackets on Feb. 9 in Buffalo when Patrik Laine had a hand/wrist injury. Laine wound up playing in a 4-3 overtime victory over the Sabres , so Meyer returned to Cleveland after taking pregame warmup at KeyBank Center.
This time, he and his family were a little more prepared when the call arrived at noon Sunday. His mother, Holly, didn't miss his call the second time around, after missing his initial call in February.
"She picks up on the first ring now every time," Meyer said, laughing. "I was obviously real excited about it. Called my mom, as usual, and then I found out this morning when I got to the rink, when the lineup was posted, that I'd be playing. So, I sent off a text to my family before getting on the ice and I haven't checked my phone yet, so I'm excited to see what they all had to say."
It was a memorable payoff for a challenging process.
Advertisement
Meyer had a nasty battle with a tapeworm as a sophomore at Miami, transferred to Ohio State for his final two college seasons, signed an AHL contract with the Monsters after his senior year — despite being drafted by the Blue Jackets in 2017 — and earned his first NHL deal last season as an AHL rookie.
"I'm just gonna try and play simple, play hard, finish my checks, compete as hard as I can and just try and enjoy every moment of it," Meyer said, "because I never knew if I'd actually make it this far and here we are."
Blue Jackets get Larsen, Werenski back; lose Chinakhov, Vincent
Meyer's NHL debut wasn't the only update the Blue Jackets issued at the morning skate.
Advertisement
Others included coach Brad Larsen returning from a COVID-19 infection , assistant coach Pascal Vincent starting COVID protocols Monday — after filling in for Larsen — defenseman Zach Werenski returning from an upper-body injury and rookie forward Yegor Chinakhov not playing because of an upper-body injury.
Werenski and Larsen each missed three games, Vincent will need to isolate from the team for at least five days and Chinakhov's injury is considered "day-to-day."
Assistant coach Steve McCarthy also remains in isolation under COVID protocol and rookie defenseman Jake Christiansen, recalled Sunday with Meyer, was expected to play while paired with Adam Boqvist on the third defense duo.
Werenski says hit by Minnesota Wild's Jacob Middleton was 'clean'
The Blue Jackets weren't happy with a high-targeted hit that knocked Werenski out of a game Mar. 26 in Minnesota, but the defenseman himself has no problem with it.
Advertisement
Werenski sustained mouth/facial injuries plus an upper-body injury believed to be a concussion when Minnesota Wild defenseman Jacob Middleton drilled him following a shot late in the first period at Xcel Energy Center. Middleton led with his shoulder and targeted the upper chest, but the impact also drove the crown of his helmet into Werenski's mouth/jaw area.
Werenski immediately dropped to the ice, grabbing his mouth, and needed assistance from two teammates to leave the ice while apparently still dazed.
"It was a good hit, a good hockey play," Werenski said Monday, after missing three games with the resulting injury. "I actually saw him coming just as I was shooting it. The hit itself was fine. It was just kind kind of unfortunate how his helmet got me right in the mouth and the chin and jaw area. (I was) pretty shaken up from it in the moment and for a few days following that, but the last week's been good."
Werenski said he probably could've played against the Bruins on Saturday in Boston, but opted for the extra game to make sure he was fully recovered.
Advertisement
"When it happens, you're kind of just wondering what's going on a little bit, just shaken up, spitting out pieces of teeth … spitting out those, bleeding from the mouth, just kind of … all over the place a little bit," Werenski said. "I felt pretty good a few days after, but those things happen in hockey, and like I said, it was a clean hit. It's good shoulder-to-shoulder. It's just unfortunate his helmet gets into me."
bhedger@dispatch
@BrianHedger
Get more Columbus Blue Jackets news by listening to our podcasts
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Carson Meyer's NHL debut top list of Blue Jackets lineup changes
