By Aaron Portzline (The Athletic)
COLUMBUS, Ohio — A collection of notes, insights, ruminations and did-you-knows gathered throughout the week that was for the Columbus Blue Jackets:
Item No. 1: Another top prospect
The Blue Jackets will have three of their minor leaguers playing in the AHL All-Star Game on Monday in San Jose, Calif. — forward Trey-Fix Wolansky, defenseman Jake Christiansen and goaltender Jet Greaves.
All three of those players have played their way to the cusp of making the Blue Jackets roster, getting a taste of NHL games over the last few seasons. It won’t be a surprise if they surface again in Columbus before the end of the season.
But there’s another prospect opening eyes in the AHL, and his NHL future might be as bright — or brighter — than any of the players.
AHL Cleveland coach Trent Vogelhuber, a former Blue Jackets draft pick and a native of Dublin, Ohio, will coach in the AHL All-Star Game on Monday, the result of the Cleveland Monsters being in first place last month when the coaches were selected.
“We’ve got three players who are going, and we’re all representing a group that’s bought in and played for each other in the first half of the season,” Vogelhuber told The Athletic. “I’ve never been to an All-Star Game as a player or a coach. I’m just excited to soak in that experience.”
Vogelhuber’s pro career was limited to six seasons thanks to chronic injuries, especially to his knees.
The closest he got to playing in the NHL came during his final two seasons, spent in the Colorado Avalanche organization. On one occasion, he was on alert to be recalled by the Avalanche — he was in the airport, waiting on a flight and a phone call — when an Avs player was cleared to play and he was no longer needed.
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