Blue Jackets notes: Dunne's confidence surging after making NHL debut
The towering 22-year old center has played well in the Traverse City NHL Prospects Tournament and could challenge for a roster spot during his first NHL training camp.
Brian HedgerIt didn’t take long for Josh Dunne to get his NHL “starstruck” moment out of the way.
A month after signing with the Blue Jackets out of Clarkson University last season, the 6-foot-4 center skated toward the dot at center ice in Dallas to take an opening face-off against one of the league’s top power forwards.
“It was against Jamie Benn,” said Dunne, who gained a memory despite losing the draw. “That was pretty cool. I’m like, ‘This is the real deal.’ ”
It was the first of six games Dunne, 22, played with Columbus before heading back to the Cleveland Monsters to finish his first season of professional hockey. He also remembers skating against stars like Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov and Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman during his brief NHL stint, which built Dunne’s confidence and eased any lingering nervous feelings about playing in the world’s best league.
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It’s a different feeling now, as Dunne heads into his first NHL training camp with a goal of earning a spot on the Jackets’ roster. He’s more comfortable mingling with established NHL players and feels prepared after spending the offseason in Columbus, working on his strength, nutrition and skating.
“I was here this summer, so I worked with the (development) staff,” Dunne said. “I had some good skill stuff this year and I’m feeling ready for camp. I feel like I’ve gotten a little bit quicker, I’ve lost a little bit of weight, and I feel like I’m in better shape than I was last year. So, I’m excited.”
The early returns are encouraging.
Dunne was a force at both ends of the ice in the Blue Jackets' first three games of the 2021 Traverse City NHL Prospects Tournament, which began Thursday with his overtime goal in a 4-3 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs. Dunne also notched the Jackets' second "Gordie Howe hat trick" of the tournament with a goal, assist and fighting major in a 7-3 victory Sunday against the Detroit Red Wings. Centering the second line, he's provided a strong physical presence and used his size effectively in all zones, especially on draws.
Dunne's most likely role in the NHL will be centering a checking line, but how quickly that happens may depend on his offensive production. He didn’t notch any points with the Blue Jackets last season, but showed offensive potential with the Monsters, finishing with 10 points on eight goals and two assists in 15 games.
“I just want an opportunity,” Dunne said. “I’m capable of playing right wing, left wing, wherever they want me. I want to show what I can do and help the organization as much as I can, however I can and wherever that is. Whether it’s a big role or small role, I’m ready to help.”'
Big Ben
Ben Boyd had seven goals and 10 points in 35 games for the Charlottetown Islanders of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League last season, but that’s not why the Blue Jackets drafted him in July.
They used a sixth-round pick (No. 165) on Boyd because he’s big (6-3, 205), skates well and provides an intimidation factor the Blue Jackets had with former power forward Josh Anderson. In fact, Anderson and Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson are the top two NHL players Boyd, 18, is trying to emulate.
“I kind of look up to those guys as the guys I want to play like,” said Boyd, who is expected to return to Charlottetown for another QMJHL season. “They’re big bodies, but they can also play the game. They have skill and they’re fast, so I think they can play the game and do everything other players can do … but they also have that physical side and toughness to them.”
Wilson also has a dark side that leads to incidents that draw the ire of opposing teams, not to mention multiple suspensions from the NHL’s department of player safety. Boyd may have a touch of that DNA. He couldn’t find an opponent to accept multiple invitations to fight in the Jackets’ first three games of the tournament, but that hasn't stopped him from trying.
“I don’t know if other people like it, but … I like getting under people’s skin and getting people mad at me, to be honest,” said Boyd, who had a goal and assist against Detroit. “I enjoy that. I like hitting people. And if they want to answer to me, then great. I would be happy to (accept).”
Grip it, rip it
Tim Berni is making the adjustment to smaller rinks in North America. One facet of that adaptation for defensemen is to shoot more often, especially if there’s a lane to get the puck through traffic.
Berni, a swift-skating Swiss defenseman, has noticeably increased the frequency of his shot attempts in the Jackets’ first three tournament games.
“The thing I’ve noticed is that you can shoot from everywhere and still be dangerous,” said Berni, who played three seasons with ZSC in his hometown of Zurich before heading to Columbus. “That’s the thing in Switzerland. You have to look for a good shot. Here, you can just take it on the blue line and rip it. You always have some guys in front of the net, and there’s a rebound maybe. That’s a big thing for the offensive side.”
bhedger@dispatch.com
@BrianHedger
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