Columbus Blue Jackets News Clips July 25-27, 2020 Columbus Blue Jackets PAGE 02: Columbus Dispatch: Four Blue Jackets had `normal’ time off in native Sweden PAGE 04: Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Blue Jackets’ Nathan Gerbe still proving himself PAGE 05: The Athletic: Blue Jackets unsettled, Tortorella irritated, as training camp 2.0 nears end PAGE 08: Sportsnet.ca: Tortorella calls out ‘key people’ as Maple Leafs showdown looms PAGE 11: Columbus Dispatch: Blue Jackets still have lineup decisions to make PAGE 12: Columbus Dispatch: Coach John Tortorella wonders if Columbus Blue Jackets are prepared for series PAGE 14: Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Blue Jackets’ Dubois, Wennberg differ in personality Cleveland Monsters/Prospects NHL/Websites PAGE 16: The Athletic: ‘We don’t expect it to be perfect’: Updates on the NHL’s health and safety plans PAGE 18: The Athletic: What will happen to the NHL playoff handshake line during the pandemic? PAGE 19: The Athletic: ‘To be united is important’ – Inside the NHL’s plan to address racism PAGE 24: Sportsnet.ca: Inside the NHL's incredible effort to ensure the show goes on PAGE 26: Sportsnet.ca: Five stats-based predictions for the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs PAGE 29: Sportsnet.ca: Quick Shifts: 'Wild card' Nick Robertson pushes fate to the wire PAGE 35: The Athletic: NHL players share pandemic tales of personal and financial stress PAGE 41: Sportsnet.ca: NHL Playoff Primer: Everything you need to know ahead of post-season PAGE 43: Sportsnet.ca: NHL teams arrive in Toronto, Edmonton ahead of league restart 1 Columbus Dispatch / Four Blue Jackets had `normal’ time off in native Sweden By Adam Jardy – July 25, 2020 The indefinite suspension of the NHL season in March presented choices for the five Swedish players who were with the Blue Jackets at the time. With family across the ocean and the future of the season in doubt, the five — Alexander Wennberg, Gus Nyquist, Kevin Stenlund, Emil Bemstrom and Jakob Lilja — could choose to remain in this country or return home and ride out the coronavirus pandemic there. Those who chose the latter, however, would have to decide how comfortable they felt being out and about in a country that was taking a decidedly different approach to the virus than the United States. In general, Sweden decided against imposing lockdowns, meaning restaurants, bars, shops and many schools were allowed to remain open. Bemstrom and Stenlund, who are 21 and 23, respectively, went home, as did veterans Wennberg and Lilja. But Nyquist, a nine-year NHL veteran who will turn 31 in September, stayed here with his wife and daughter. Now, all but Lilja have returned and are in full preparation for the Jackets’ qualifying-round playoff series against Toronto that starts Aug. 2. They’re glad to be reunited and are focusing on the challenge ahead rather than the uncertainty that remains outside of the rink. "It’s a crazy world we live in right now," Nyquist said. "We didn’t end up going back to Sweden this summer because of the virus, not knowing what’s going to happen. It’s definitely something I hope we won’t have to go through again in our lifetime. "Obviously we paused the season for a good reason and hopefully we can come back and do it the right way here and do it a safe way." When the season was suspended, Stenlund said he returned home to be with his family for what would be an extended visit. His experiences in Sweden were different than what he had seen in the United States. "Here, when I went home (America) started to get locked down and all the restaurants and everything were closed," he said. "Back home there were restrictions but things were all open, so it wasn’t the same feeling. It was kind of normal. You can go to a gym and do this or that." Bemstrom said he mostly stayed home while back in Sweden, spending time with family and friends. "It’s been great," he said. "I hadn’t seen them in a while, especially my dad, so it’s been fun to see all of them." While everyone was scattered across the globe, the Blue Jackets had team quizzes to help keep them in communication with each other in addition to occasional video calls. Nyquist said he stayed in close touch with his family back in Sweden, checking in on them and making sure everyone was staying healthy. As the NHL shifted closer to returning, Bemstrom said he was able to start skating with Stenlund and Wennberg before players started to make their way back to their team cities amid the pandemic. 2 Lilja, meanwhile, decided to stay in Europe and in June signed to play with a team in the Kontinental Hockey League. Those players who returned to the U.S. were required to quarantine upon arrival and, according to Stenlund, there was some memorable time spent at airports. "It was kind of weird to see the airport was pretty empty," he said. "It was like a dead town. It was a good flight and then days of quarantine and testing. It went well." Bemstrom and Stenlund said they spent a lot of time watching Netflix and playing video games while going through their quarantine upon arrival back in Ohio. And as they have prepared to take part in the NHL’s bubble, they have taken the necessary precautions. "You just have to be careful and try to stay healthy and follow the rules by the country you’re in," Bemstrom said. "You have to be careful anywhere you go and wear the mask, of course." 3 Columbus Dispatch / Columbus Blue Jackets’ Nathan Gerbe still proving himself By Brian Hedger – July 25, 2020 If anybody had a reason to sulk, it was Nathan Gerbe. After reigniting his NHL career by helping the Blue Jackets stay in playoff contention despite a mountain of injuries, Gerbe was lumped into the Jackets’ second practice group when the team opened a training camp preparing for the league’s upcoming 24-team playoffs. Gerbe, of course, didn’t sulk about it. It’s not his style, not even a little, and it would have wasted time that he didn’t have to spare. Instead, the shortest player on record to play in the NHL put every inch of his 5-foot-4 frame to work — aiming again to prove that he’s worth a spot in the lineup when the Jackets open a best-of-five qualifying-round series on Aug. 2 against the Toronto Maple Leafs. "First and foremost, I’m excited for the opportunity to play (in camp)," said Gerbe, who is slated to grind through another practice on Friday, his 33rd birthday. "Any time you get on the ice, it’s an opportunity to show something. "As of right now, I’m not in the lineup, but no matter what part I play on this team, I want to help it win — and if we get past the (opening round), then make a good, long run to the finals. That’s been my goal." Nearing the end of camp, Gerbe appears to be making progress. He scored goals in two of the Jackets’ first four scrimmages and has shown typical tenacity and fearlessness in all four. He’s also back to skating at a high level after recovering from a hernia procedure in March. After leaving his wife and three young kids at their home near Cleveland, Gerbe’s focus now is entirely on the postseason. "Obviously, as you get older, you don’t get these opportunities too much, so you cherish your time at the rink at this time of the season," he said. "In playoff hockey, you cherish every moment you’re here." Ready to kill Before signing with Columbus last summer, Gus Nyquist hadn’t been used as a penalty-killing forward. He logged a total of 7 minutes, 33 seconds in short-handed ice time in 481 games for the Detroit Red Wings over eight seasons, and only 19 seconds in short-handed situations in 19 games with San Jose. It was a different story with the Blue Jackets, who experimented with Nyquist as a penalty-killer early and continued as the season progressed. He finished the season with 45:56 in short-handed ice time and is prepared to keep filling that role. "We’ll see," Nyquist said. "I don’t think we’ve really gotten into that, but if that’s something they want me to do, that’s a role I take a lot of pride in and I want to be out there killing penalties." 4 The Athletic / Blue Jackets unsettled, Tortorella irritated, as training camp 2.0 nears end By Aaron Portzline – July 25, 2020 COLUMBUS, Ohio — Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella wasn’t happy with Monday’s practice. We can only assume he wasn’t overly pleased with Tuesday’s lopsided intrasquad scrimmage, either, because — in fine midseason form — he refused to speak with media afterward. A day off on Wednesday did little to calm his nerves. The Blue Jackets were barely 15 seconds into practice on Thursday when Tortorella gave a trumpet-like blow on his whistle, bringing the first drill to an immediate stop and ordering the 15-player group to center ice. What followed was a stern lecture, chock full of expletives, the type Tortorella delivers better than just about anyone. Running time: about 90 seconds. Practice resumed, and a higher pace was maintained. But with two days to go before the Blue Jackets head to the bubble in Toronto, six days to go before they play an exhibition against Boston and nine days before they open a best-of-five qualifying series versus Toronto, the veteran coach wants to see an increase in urgency.