Marko Dano relishing likelihood to return to Blue Jackets

Earlier than Monday night time, the final time Marko Dano had performed an NHL recreation whereas sporting a Blue Jackets sweater, he appeared like a important a part of the franchise’s future. The primary-round draft decide (No. 27 total in 2013) had an help in that April 11, 2015, recreation on the New York Islanders. It capped a incredible end for the Austrian-born Slovak ahead, who had a Four-10-14 line in his final 15 video games for Columbus in that rookie season. General, he had eight targets and 21 factors in 35 video games after his midseason debut and was a real brilliant spot for a staff that had desires of playoff competition the following season after profitable 15 of its final 17 video games. Then, on the NHL draft, Dano’s hockey world was turned the wrong way up. He was one of many items despatched again to Chicago within the Brandon Saad commerce, and his NHL profession by no means fairly was the identical. He bounced from the Blackhawks to the Jets to the Avalanche — to not point out the IceHogs (Rockford) and Moose (Manitoba) within the AHL — by no means discovering the identical stage of manufacturing he did in Columbus. Maybe that was why Dano was all smiles each this summer season, when he signed with the Blue Jackets as a free agent, and on Monday when he stood in entrance of his stall at Nationwide Enviornment, about to step again on the ice as a Blue Jacket once more. He was introduced as much as the large membership on an emergency recall Sunday due to the plethora of accidents suffered by the Jackets, and he performed every of the final two nights for throughout wins each at house vs. Washington after which at Detroit. “It is just about half of a staff (totally different) from the final time,” he stated earlier than the Capitals recreation. “It has been some time however the guys are nonetheless right here, and it is good to see these guys once more. Tonight, it will be an important night time to be again right here after 5 years. It has been some time since I’ve performed on this constructing as the house staff. I am excited for the cannon, and hopefully we are able to hear it a bunch of occasions tonight.” He then heard it for every CBJ aim within the win over the Caps after which once more when the Blue Jackets celebrated their victory postgame. Whereas the cannon has come to be the bane of opponents’ existences over time, it was a candy feeling for Dano to be on the precise facet of it as soon as once more. “That was superb,” he stated. “Hopefully I will get a few video games the place I can hear it after my targets. It was an important win for us, and I used to be completely satisfied to be part of that.” Issues actually have modified for Dano, his teammates and the entire group since he went to Chicago within the Saad deal. Whereas he is bounced from NHL staff to NHL staff, in addition to these AHL squads, the Blue Jackets have constructed a constant winner together with being certainly one of simply seven groups to make the playoffs every of the previous three seasons. It is come underneath a brand new coach, too, as Todd Richards was let go early within the season after Dano was dealt, changed by John Tortorella. Most of his teammates from again within the day are gone, as properly, however just a few stay. Nick Foligno, Boone Jenner, Cam Atkinson, David Savard, Ryan Murray, Josh Anderson and fellow 2013 first-round decide Alexander Wennberg are those that are nonetheless round, changing into core items of the CBJ puzzle that Dano as soon as thought he’d be. “It is a bit totally different — he speaks a bit higher English,” Wennberg joked about being reunited along with his former teammate. “It is enjoyable to see him again on the ice. It brings again a bit little bit of recollections. We simply should get (Scott Hartnell) again on the road, too. We’ll see how that goes. However it’s enjoyable to see, and I believe he did a superb job coming right here. It must be loads of feelings, and it must be enjoyable to be again for him.” Dano has performed every recreation on the fourth line to this point and does not have a degree, however he was an all-situations participant with three targets and 12 factors within the AHL with Cleveland who hopes to chip in the place he can so long as the chance arises.  Doing it at what he considers his authentic NHL house makes it all of the sweeter. “It is an important feeling to be on the market once more and do the issues I used to do and have some enjoyable on the market,” he stated. “It is a spot the place I began, and now being again, it is actually particular. You do not know how many individuals can try this of their profession, so it is good to be again right here.”