Lets get physical!

The Columubs Blue Jackets are set to open training camp today with physicals and conditioning tests. This will mark the start of the 7th season for the CBJ, one in which will see new leadership under GM Scott Howson and Coach Ken Hitchcock's first full season behind the bench.

You can watch a video interview over on bluejackets.nhl.com that previews the start of camp with play-by-play announcer Jeff Rimer and the aforementioned Ken Hitchcock.

In other Blue Jacket news this morning Wes Goldstein of cbsports.com previews the central and these are his comments on the CBJ:

That's not really the case in Columbus, where Hitchcock gets to impose his brand of discipline from the outset of the season on a franchise that has been best known for its country-club type atmosphere. The Blue Jackets are entering a new era with rookie Scott Howson taking over from Doug MacLean as general manager, and with veteran Michael Peca arriving to provide the kind of on-ice leadership that has been lacking since the franchise debuted in 2000.

Columbus will benefit if aging Sergei Fedorov, a future Hall of Famer, has the kind of inspired season many players do in the final year of a contract, but there are still too many holes in the lineup for the Jackets to be much of a factor. They should be a much tougher team to play against, which in itself would represent a significant step for the organization.

Once again panned but that's par for the course this offseason. The Jackets are gonna have to earn their respect on the ice which is fine by me. You can read more from Wes here:

The Dispatch also had a good read on Rick Nash and his conditioning and how he's ready to step up as a leader:

When Nash left Columbus in the spring, he was given detailed instructions on how to work out during the offseason. He spent the summer in Ontario working with personal trainer David Ablack, who provided frequent updates to Hitchcock and Blue Jackets strength and conditioning coach Barry Brennan.

"There was a real sense of seriousness about his conditioning this summer," Hitchcock said, "a real commitment to building up a real high level of endurance. Now, like a lot of other guys on our club, he can't wait to get out there on the ice and show people how far he has come."

"Let's be honest here," Hitchcock said. "Very few players are like (Pittsburgh Penguins center) Sidney Crosby, where they're just freakishly motivated right out of the package. But most good players figure it out pretty quick, and Rick now has figured it out.

"What you're going to see is all that skill now mixed with better conditioning, and that'll make for a better player. Plus, his maturity. He's ready to take the ball now, too."

Hands down my favorite quote from the article is this:

"Obviously, I like to score goals. That's what I've done my whole career. But I'd rather make the playoffs than score 50 goals, absolutely. I'd make that trade in a minute. If I play a two-way game, everything else will take care of itself."

Read more here.

Training camp is here Jacket fans so get out this weekend and lets support these guys!

*Schedule and roster can be found in the top right of this blog. Training camp is free to attend.

-LTL