One season after becoming the 13th NHL coach to win 500 games, Blue Jackets coach Ken Hitchcock on Wednesday will become the 16th NHL coach to work 1,000 games.

"To me, the 1,000 games is more meaningful," Hitchcock said. "What the Blue Jackets did for me last season (a pregame ceremony on March 12) was very nice, but I don't look at the wins.

"The 1,000 games I'm just proud to be in the league that long. It means you're not a two-year wonder. It means that someone thinks enough of you to keep you employed."

The Blue Jackets will honor Hitchcock briefly from the bench during a first-period stoppage of play Wednesday in Nationwide Arena during a game against Detroit.

"My first game coaching in the NHL was against Detroit, so that's pretty unique," Hitchcock said. "I'm hoping for a better result."

The Red Wings won 4-0 over Hitchcock's Dallas Stars that night, but Hitchcock has gone on to compile a 520-328-88-63 record with Dallas, Philadelphia and the Blue Jackets.

"Every coach, no matter how long they've been at it, thinks that we're one bad week away from being out of a job," Hitchcock said. "That fear provides the constant motivation to keep going."

The Blue Jackets hired Hitchcock on Nov. 22, 2006. Remarkably, only seven current NHL coaches have tenures with their clubs at least as long as Hitchcock's 252 games -- Buffalo's Lindy Ruff (916), Nashville's Barry Trotz (835), Anaheim's Randy Carlyle (343), Detroit's Mike Babcock (343), Vancouver's Alain Vigneault (264) and Philadelphia's John Stevens (252).

"To play or coach in 1,000 games is huge," Blue Jackets defenseman Mike Commodore said. "It says you've done a lot of good things, you're talented, you're smart and you've been a little lucky.

"Good for Hitch. That's a big accomplishment, and I hope we play well on Wednesday."

Nash had no idea

Right winger Rick Nash said he didn't feel his right skate clip the left thigh of Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Cam Ward during the first period of Saturday's 3-2 win.

"When he was there on the ice right after it happened, I thought he hurt his knee or his groin or something," Nash said. "It's really scary. Skates are sharp. I didn't even know it happened."

Ward needed surgery late Saturday to repair a lacerated muscle in his thigh. He returned to Raleigh, N.C., yesterday.

Ward is one of the few goaltenders in the NHL who doesn't wear a protective pad covering the knee and lower thigh, just above the large, visible pads.

Both Blue Jackets goaltenders, Steve Mason and Mathieu Garon, wear the padding.

"I've had the pleasure of meeting Cam, and he's a world-class guy," Mason said. "This is scary stuff, and it's tough for him and a big loss for the Hurricanes.

"He chooses not to wear that extra pad. I'm not sure why, but it's cost him twice now."

Ward suffered a cut to a knee during a March 11, 2007, game against the New York Rangers.

Slap shot

Left winger Kristian Huselius (shoulder sprain) skated on his own and will skate with assistant coaches this morning. He could join the rest of the Blue Jackets later in practice this week, with an eye on returning next week.

aportzline@dispatch.com