The Blue Jackets opened their 15th training camp this morning with a 9 a.m. session followed by two more, wrapping up a six-hour day on the practice sheet. All healthy players were present and accounted for in sessions that began with line rushes and basic “teaching” drills, followed by a rigorous and demanding skating test to finish up.
Alexander Wennberg, entering his sophomore NHL season, said all the players know that the skate tests are coming – but they’re even happier to get them over with.
“It’s all mental,” Wennberg said.
There’s a great deal of physical exertion, too, but Wennberg’s point was that the mental strength is far more important to help push through.