Blue Jackets rookie John Moore got his cup of NHL coffee in two games last season. The Blue Jackets, perhaps wisely, made sure he didn’t drink too deeply.

Moore, 21, has proved to be one of the top rookie defensemen in the NHL this season. This smooth-skating first-round draft pick in 2009 has quietly shown he belongs in a league that has mostly used and abused the last-place Blue Jackets.

“We’re very cognizant of the fact that having some of the younger players around this environment would be very harmful,” general manager Scott Howson said. “He’s seemed to have handled it well. He is so committed that I think whatever you throw at him he is going to be able to deal with eventually.”

Moore has been a mainstay in the lineup since he was recalled from minor-league Springfield on Oct. 22. He has two goals and four assists in 41 games and has become an increasingly important member of the defensive corps.

Moore played a career-high 26:37 in a 3-2 overtime victory at Anaheim on Friday when teammate Brett Lebda was knocked out of the game because of a thumb injury in the first period.

He had played 18 minutes or more in nine of the previous 10 games.

“There haven’t been too many bright spots or positive things to talk about this year, but one of them would be Johnny Moore,” interim coach Todd Richards said. “We’ve thrust him into positions that you don’t want to thrust young defensemen into but because of injuries and certain circumstances he’s had to do it.

“He’s handled it really well.”

The Blue Jackets’ defense was porous last season, but the team did not feel the need to rush Moore to the NHL. Richards and Howson said a full season in Springfield was good preparation for Moore, who played 73 games in the American Hockey League last season.

“When you get that year under your belt, you learn what to expect as a pro,” Richards said. “That’s a big step in the maturing process of hockey players.”

Youthful immaturity is not an issue with an ever earnest and polite Moore.

Moore’s idea of a good time is watching six continuous hours of Hockey Night in Canada with roommate Derick Brassard.

“I guess you could call me kind of a hockey nut,” Moore said. “That’s really all of my focus, to get better. Some people might look at that as kind of boring. I love it.”

Moore records and watches NHL games, especially those involving the players he has made a point to study: All-Star defensemen Ryan Suter (Nashville), Duncan Keith (Chicago) and Keith Yandle (Phoenix).

“The thing that sticks out is the type of character he has and how good of a kid he is,” Richards said. “You don’t have to worry about him off the ice. There are certain players you wonder, are they taking care of themselves? Are they doing this or that?

“Johnny seems like he’s heading down the right road. He sees what he wants. He knows what he wants. I could list a bunch of adjectives to describe him and they’re all good ones.”

smitchell@dispatch.com