Battalion Breakdown is a closer look at the Blue Jackets' past season from a numerical standpoint, starting with the highest jersey number and counting down to the lowest. Today, BlueJackets.com examines defenseman Markus Nutivaara's season and how it impacted Columbus in the 2017-18 campaign.
Markus Nutivaara
Number:65
Age:24
Birthdate:June 6, 1994
Height/Weight:6-1, 191
Position:Defenseman
Nickname:"Nuti"
Among those who solidified themselves as NHL regulars for the Blue Jackets, Markus Nutivaara's name is at the very top of the list.
Coming off hip surgery in April 2017, Nutivaara came to training camp hoping to earn a regular spot in the lineup. It didn't go as planned, after an offseason of rehabbing put him behind in training, and Nutivaara began the season with the Cleveland Monsters of the American Hockey League.
He wasn't in the AHL long, though, after replacing injured rookie defenseman Gabriel Carlsson in October. Nutivaara took full advantage of the opportunity, skating with Ryan Murray at right point on the third defense pairing to start out and eventually earning an everyday role.
Without hip pain hindering his mobility, the Finnish blue-liner showed improvements in speed and quickness, which brought out the best parts of his game. He made significant strides in all three zones and even filled-in capably on the top pairing when defensemen Zach Werenski and Seth Jones each missed time with injuries.
Nutivaara proved that he could play either point and his overall play led to a four-year contract extension that made him part of the Blue Jackets' core group going forward.
He didn't contribute any points against the Washington Capitals during the playoffs but played solid defense and finished with a plus-2 plus/minus rating for the series. He accepted an invitation to play for Finland in the 2018 IIHF Men's World Championship and was one of the best defensemen in the tournament.
Going forward, Nutivaara has potential to become one of the Jackets' top offensive threats from the back end and could earn a second-pairing role as soon as next season. Here's a look back at his 2017-18 campaign, through numbers, to see how he impacted the Blue Jackets:
BATTALION BREAKDOWN: Markus Nutivaara
After camp disappointment, puck-moving defenseman earned a regular role, contract extension.
© Jamie Sabau