After that season, Klesla played a season for the new Brampton Battalion team in the Ontario Hockey League and was drafted by the Blue Jackets. He was named to the OHL and Canadian Major Junior All-Rookie Teams after posting 16 goals and 29 assists while racking up 174 penalty minutes.

Klesla apparently convinced the rest of the league's players that he had the necessary strength and resolve because he came back the next season to score 18 goals with 36 assists, but took only 59 minutes in penalties. He was named to the OHL All-Star Team.

"I had very good coaches in Dave Hakstol and Stan Butler at Brampton and we had great guys and a lot of fun on both teams," Klesla said. "We didn't have a great team in Brampton unfortunately, but we were over .500 both seasons. It was good experience for me. I learned the language and the style of hockey and it got me ready for the NHL."

Klesla wasn't thrilled to return to the OHL for the 2000-01 season. He had a good training camp and remained with the parent team for eight games at the start of the season.

"I was fighting for a spot but they decided to send me back," Klesla said. "I told them I would develop myself and see them next season. I was a little disappointed, but Brampton is a good town and a good team. After the season, I joined the Czech Republic team at the World Juniors and we won the gold medal. So, I have no complaints. In the end, it was a good move."

MacLean and King realized that Gaborik, Heatley and DiPietro had experience against much older players and felt Klesla needed the confidence that comes from dominating rather than a long, rough go against the big boys.

"Gaborik played two years against men in Slovakia and Heatley and DiPietro played against older guys in college," Boyd said. "Heatley and DiPietro are a year older than Marian and Rosty. Two years ago was Rusty's year to mature, take some responsibility and provide leadership. That's what we wanted out of him before he stepped into the lineup and it proved the right thing to do. Eight goals was excellent for a defenseman with limited power-play time. This is a year in which he has to take another step."

Klesla left no doubt about his readiness last season and benefited from playing a lot with veteran defenseman Lyle Odelein, who was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks at the trading deadline. He had eight goals and eight assists with 74 penalty minutes in 75 games.

"I had a decent year my rookie season," Klesla said. "I learned a lot about the traveling, which was a lot different than playing in juniors or Europe.

Columbus fans have taken to Klesla's big smile and positive attitude as well as his skills.

"I guess I had a pretty good year for a rookie. The coaches said they were pretty happy with me. I thought it could have been better. It was frustrating that the team didn't do well. It wasn't as much fun as I would have liked. But we are a new franchise, getting better, and it was a good learning experience."

"I'm thrilled with Rusty's development at this point in his career," said Blue Jackets General Manager Doug MacLean. "Playing defense in the National Hockey League is incredibly difficult for young players and I think he has handled it very well. He obviously has things to learn and areas of his game to improve upon, but he continues to get better every day and has a chance to be a real special player for many years to come."

Columbus fans have taken to his big smile and positive attitude as well as his skills. Hakstol is not surprised.

"His personality drew a lot of people to him and he became everybody's little brother," the coach recalled. "The rest of the players and the billeting families loved him. He wasn't shy about anything and everybody wanted to help out because he put the effort out. He learned English very quickly. After six weeks, all you could hear was Rosty chirping on the bus. It was like creating a monster but it was all for the good. It was a hell of a story."

Klesla, like a lot of successful people, benefits from his intense focus. He knows who to listen to and whom he has to satisfy.

"Someone may think there's a lot of pressure but I don't see it that way," he said. "I don't really pay attention to pressure or what people expect. I try to concentrate on the game and play my game. If I play bad, I think about what I have to do to be better. I don't make pressure on myself. There's always a little pressure but you have to feel some pressure to improve, but not enough to affect the way I play or the way I live."