FEATURE: Blackhawks youngsters prepare for debuts

On the eve of his NHL debut, Henri Jokiharju approaches the impending career milestone with the calmness of a 10-year pro.
"I don't want to make it bigger than what it is," he said.
Go ahead, Jokiharju… let yourself enjoy the moment. You've made it to the National Hockey League and, on Thursday night, you'll put on the Chicago Blackhawks jersey and battle the Ottawa Senators.

"Of course, it will be fun," he said, smiling as he spoke. "I've waited all my childhood to play in the NHL. It's going to be fun. It's going to be a huge game, but I'm not going to make it any bigger than what it's going to be and try not to think too much. It's one game for me. Best time of my life right now, so I'm just going to enjoy it."
Opening nights and NHL debuts can bring on the butterflies for a young player. Not for the 19-year-old defenseman, he claims.
"Not really," he said "I just try to be as confident as possible and not think about the game too much. Just normal."
"I'll have the butterflies for him," Head Coach Joel Quenneville joked.
Even the veteran bench boss gets the butterflies in his stomach for the first game of the season, so you have to admire Jokiharju's confidence.
"He's a young kid, he's got a lot of confidence," said Quenneville. "He's got some poise with how he plays the game. I think as you get going in the game, whether it's the first shift or not, you probably feel a little excited about it. Then you settle down and you get hit or you get in that game-type situation then you're only thinking about hockey. It's human nature that I would expect him to feel nervous or whatever, but the excitement level is definitely going to be there."

Chris Kunitz, who is eyeing his 1,000th NHL game later this season, remembers the emotions of the very first one.
"I just remember being excited," he said. "You want to go out there and show what you can do but also learn within the team game. This is a good group to be a part of. If you can get in there and find your niche that's the best way to stay with the team."
Jokiharju is not alone among those looking to make their NHL debuts on Thursday. Dominik Kahun and Luke Johnson also appear to be in the lineup, based on recent line rushes in practice and indications from Quenneville.
"It's definitely exciting," said Johnson. "I've worked so hard my whole life to get here and it's finally here. It's definitely exciting and I'm a little nervous, but I think I'm more excited than nervous. I don't want to just play a few games. I want to stick around and make a career out of it. I think I've just got to do what I do best and play my game and work hard."
Johnson, like Jokiharju, recognizes that this is a dream come true - to be on the opening night roster and to be closing in on the big debut.
"I think everyone as a kid dreams of the same thing - playing their first game and then eventually winning a Stanley Cup. It's pretty surreal that it's finally here," Johnson said.

When he steps foot on the ice, Johnson says he'll definitely take the time to soak it all in before shifting focus.
"Warmups, yeah," he said. "I'll definitely look around and take it all in and just enjoy it. That's the biggest thing to just enjoy it, play hard and have fun."
Johnson skated on the fourth line with Marcus Kruger and Andreas Martinsen on Wednesday. Kahun has, throughout the better part of the preseason, been on the top line with Alex DeBrincat and Jonathan Toews. Jokiharju has been paired with Duncan Keith.
"That's what teams need to be successful," said Kunitz, a four-time Stanley Cup champion. "You need the older, veteran core guys to do their part but you also need, every year, a rookie or two to step up so you can duplicate that next year and get better and grow. Then you need new guys to come in and replenish the team with energy, speed and the new skillset that so many of the young guys have.
"Every team that's successful has a little bit of everybody. Our job as older guys is to make them comfortable and get them into the routine of the NHL as quick as we can so we can come out as a successful team."