SAN JOSE, Calif. -- If Stefan Legein proves he's capable of playing in the NHL, Blue Jackets players will welcome him with open arms.

That was the message yesterday, a day after Legein, once considered a top prospect, revealed that he's ready to play hockey again after abruptly quitting the game this summer.

"Stefan's a hockey player," defenseman Marc Methot said. "He knows that now. Having a couple of months off, he's probably aching to get back in, and we're going to support him.

"We just need him to prove that he really wants to be here, that there's no question about that."

Legein could still be weeks from returning. He told TSN.ca late Tuesday that he hopes to return by early January.

His agent, Doug Woods, was hoping to schedule practice time for Legein with a major-junior club yesterday. Neither Woods nor Legein returned messages from The Dispatch yesterday.

"There was obviously something going on in his life that led him to that decision," center Michael Peca said. "It's not our place to judge him on the decision he made. But it's obvious that he'll look back and regret it.

"The positive thing is, he's still young, and if he has that fire back, I'm sure he'll be an asset to the organization."

Legein, living in St. Catherines, Ontario, could travel first to Columbus for a meeting with the Blue Jackets' hockey operations staff, including general manager Scott Howson. But it's unlikely he would practice with the Blue Jackets any time soon.

Most likely, he would practice with Syracuse of the American Hockey League until he's deemed to be in game condition.

Legein, the Blue Jackets' second-round pick (No. 37) in 2007, played in two playoff games with the Crunch last spring before asking to return home.

Wild trip

The Blue Jackets had better take a deep breath.

Beginning tonight, when they face the San Jose Sharks, the Blue Jackets will play 15 of their next 23 games on the road. Thirteen of those 15 will be outside the Eastern time zone.

"Quite frankly, we've been a better road team at times this season than we've been at home," coach Ken Hitchcock said. "I think it will be good for us."

This is the part of the schedule that made Hitchcock and others cringe last summer when it was released. It includes three trips to the West Coast -- two in the United States, one in Canada -- and a season-long, six-game voyage that starts Dec. 29 in Los Angeles and ends Jan. 9 in Washington.

"It's tough playing on the road," rookie goaltender Steve Mason said. "But that's part of hockey. It's kind of fun. You go into opposing buildings and the fans are on you, but that's what makes hockey fun."

After the All-Star Game break Jan. 24-25, the Blue Jackets play 10 of their next 13 games at home.

Slap shots

To fill the void left by Raffi Torres' (knee) absence, the Blue Jackets elevated right winger Jared Boll to the third line with Peca and left winger Fredrik Modin. Jiri Novotny, a healthy scratch the past six games, will join the fourth line with Andrew Murray and Manny Malhotra. Prospect defenseman Teddy Ruth was named to the U.S. roster for the World Junior Championships Dec. 26-Jan. 5 in Ottawa, Ontario. Two other prospects, defenseman Cody Goloubef and left winger Matt Calvert, were invited to Canada's "selection camp" this month.

aportzline@dispatch.com