The picture is getting a bit less foggy in terms of who is staying in Springfield and who is heading to the NHL, at least for the Columbus Blue Jackets' training camp.
The Republican's Garry Brown reported on Thursday evening that forward Cam Atkinson and defenseman John Moore were called up to Columbus.
Atkinson, the former Boston College star and Greenwich, Conn., native who saw time in the NHL last year after posting a terrific AHL campaign, was once again shining bright in Springfield, registering 38 points (17 goals, 21 assists) while playing in all 33 of the Falcons’ regular-season games.
John Moore, who spent a great deal of time with Columbus last season as the Blue Jackets dealt with a rash of injuries to their blue line, was leading the Falcons in plus-minus rating at plus-14, but had been sidelined recently by a concussion.
According to Brown, Columbus Assistant GM Chris MacFarland has said that more Falcon players may be called up for training camp, which may begin either Sunday or Monday, but everyone but Atkinson and Moore would be available for Friday's road game against the Worcester Sharks.
Aaron Portzline, NHL beat writer for the Columbus Dispatch, reported that after the Falcons' Saturday home game against the Providence Bruins, four or five additional players would be recalled.
One person who has played well, but may not get a shot is Curtis McElhinney. The Blue Jackets currently have Sergei Bobrovski, for whom they traded, and Chris Mason, to whom they owe more than $3 million in salary to this year. Portzline reported via twitter that Columbus is not planning on carrying a third goalie.
In preparation of expected call-ups, the Falcons recently recalled Wade MacLeod from the Evansville Icemen of the ECHL. Anton Blomqvist was also reassigned to the team from Evansville and Springfield also signed 40-year-old AHL veteran defenseman Bryan Helmer to a contract.
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