OTTAWA -- As the NHL's youngest team hemorrhages goals and searches for an identity, it is bereft of veteran leadership.

Blue Jackets forward Rick Nash, 25, is a mere second-year captain. R.J. Umberger, 27, and Antoine Vermette, 27, are first-year alternate captains.

Meanwhile, Mike Commodore, 30, is trying to find his game and Fredrik Modin, 35, remains away from the club because of a knee injury.

But coach Ken Hitchcock believes young leaders are forged in adverse times like these.

"These are the things you go through that define your leadership," Hitchcock said. "It's a work in progress. Some of these guys are taking on new responsibility.

"Right now, it's not about what they say, but what they do. How leaders play forces others to follow them."

Understated by nature, Nash said he's focused on staying positive at a time when the Jackets have the NHL's second-worst goals-against average (3.52). Entering last night's game, Nash led the team with 27 points, but possessed a minus-11 rating.

"It's a long season and there are going to be rough stretches," Nash said. "I try to buy into what Hitch is saying and do the right things. Hitch's style has worked at every level and with every team so we need to buy in."

Umberger acknowledges the Jackets are a "quiet team." The players who do the most talking behind closed doors are Nash, Umberger, Vermette and second-year alternate captain Rostislav Klesla, 27.

The locker room, Umberger said, misses the voice of Modin, a Stanley Cup and Olympic gold-medal winner. Modin has yet to play a game this season, and injured players rehab before their teammates get to the rink.

Hitchcock said it's hard for a player like Commodore to lead when he's trying to get his game in order.

"These guys are sorting it out," Hitchcock said. "We're no different than 80 percent of the teams. Adversity forms identity."

Fight for playing time

Barring injuries, defensemen Marc Methot and Kris Russell will be rotating for a spot in the lineup.

Hitchcock said he plans to keep Commodore and Jan Hejda, who are coming back from injuries, in the lineup.

Commodore has struggled since returning from an assortment of ailments. Hejda had been an uncharacteristic minus-9 in the past seven games heading into last night's action. He missed eight games because of a knee injury from Oct. 13-Nov. 4.

Hejda and Methot are the only Jackets defensemen who are not minus players.

Russell has been scratched six times in the past nine games.

Slap shots

The Jackets scratched forward Tom Sestito and Russell last night. Modin (knee) has resumed skating. Forward Andrew Murray (shoulder) will return to the lineup between Dec. 3 and Dec. 9, Hitchcock said.

treed@dispatch.com