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Blue Jackets notebook: Fritsche in minors with eye on NHL
Tuesday,
October 6, 2009 3:04 AM
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- Dan Fritsche wasn't willing to negotiate a two-way contract with
NHL teams this summer, opting instead to attend training camp with the Atlanta Thrashers on a
tryout with the hope of landing an NHL deal.
The risk did not pay off for Fritsche, who was released from his tryout agreement with the Thrashers on Sept. 28, two days before the season opened. Yesterday, Fritsche, 24, signed a one-year, minor-league contract with the Syracuse Crunch, the Blue Jackets' American Hockey League affiliate. He will join the Crunch today. "I'm obviously going there with the best attitude possible," said Fritsche, a Parma, Ohio, native and the Blue Jackets' second-round pick (No. 46 overall) in the 2003 NHL entry draft. "Nobody wants to play in the AHL after you've played five or six seasons in the NHL. Nobody wants to take that step back. "But I'm going down there with a lot to prove. I know I'm going to play a lot, and I want to find my game again, develop my game." Fritsche played 206 games with the Blue Jackets between the 2003-04 and 2007-08 seasons, but his career has been a struggle since he was traded to the New York Rangers in the summer of 2008. Fritsche barely played in New York, then was traded to the Minnesota Wild for defenseman Erik Reitz in January. Fritsche, a restricted free agent, expected a qualifying offer from the Wild. But the Wild cleaned out its hockey operations department this summer and Fritsche was set adrift. "The summer dragged along," Fritsche said. "I wanted to play in the NHL, so I took Atlanta's offer." The chances of Fritsche suiting up again for the Blue Jackets appears slim. He'd have to sign an NHL contract before he could be recalled from Syracuse. The Blue Jackets did him a favor, however. As part of the contract, they agreed to let other NHL clubs negotiate a two-way contract with Fritsche if they like what they see. "Columbus and (general manager) Scott Howson have given me a real good situation," Fritsche said. "If my next shot (in the NHL) isn't with the Blue Jackets, and some other club wants to give me a chance, they've said they'll respect that." Syracuse coach Ross Yates said Fritsche will play center on one of the Crunch's top two lines. "We're expecting big things from Danny," Yates said. "He's the type of player we need right now. "The harsh reality is, he has to play well to get back to the next level. He should be fully motivated to come here, take off and do well and have teams calling and knocking on his door." Stralman scratchedDefenseman Anton Stralman was a healthy scratch last night, but will likely make his Blue Jackets debut Thursday in San Jose.
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