Former TPS Guest Blogger Recalled to NHL

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Great news today for a player that we got to know quite well during his NHL draft year. The Columbus Blue Jackets have announced that defenceman John Moore, their 1st round selection in 2009, has been recalled from AHL Springfield and is expected to make his NHL debut on Friday night in Detroit. Here is the release from Columbus.


As you may recall, Moore wrote a series of blog entries here during the 2008-09 season and through them and his appearances on the radio program, fans got a chance to get to know him better. Take a few minutes to check out his work, to date his have been some of the best entries from the players we are fortunate enough to have guest blog with us each year. You can find them HERE mixed in with the other guest bloggers from the 2009 draft.

He was chosen 21st overall by the Blue Jackets after his second season in the USHL with the Chicago Steel where he was an All-Star (see above). After the draft, Moore opted for the OHL's Kitchener Rangers rather than follow through on his verbal commitment to Colorado College. His year with the Rangers saw him collect 47 points in 61 regular season games and another 16 points in 20 playoff outings.

This year Moore moved up another level to the AHL. He was just 19-years-old at the beginning of the season, he turned 20 on November 19th, and has played well enough to be named to the roster at the recent AHL All-Star game. He currently sits with 18 points through 47 AHL games, tops in Springfield among blueliners.

Moore was a recent guest on The Pipeline Show and I asked him if how difficult his rapid progression from the USHL to the OHL and then the AHL has been considering that's three leagues in three seasons.

"It's been a little bit weird," he began, "A lot of new faces. I was thinking about that the other day - 3 new teams in 3 years so it's been a bit of a whirlwind. Fortunately in all of those places I've been with a lot of good players and great coaches along the way and so it's been a lot of fun."

You can hear the rest of that January 29th interview by hitting the archived audio vault HERE.

Moore has been recalled because of an injury to Rusty Klesla and while it's likely that the youngster will return to the farm once the vet is cleared to play, who knows what might happen should he show that he's ready to take another big step.

(Photos: Columbus Blue Jackets, USHL Images, Aaron Bell/OHL Images)