Practice Notes: Atkinson practices, doesn't rule out early return

LAS VEGAS - Cam Atkinson is looking like a guy who's trying to get off injured reserve as quickly as possible.
The Blue Jackets' veteran forward, who's on IR recovering from a broken right foot, skated again Monday. He completed his first full practice since the injury Dec. 23 against the Philadelphia Flyers, and said there's a possibility he could return soon.
Atkinson's recovery was estimated as four-to-six weeks after surgery Dec. 27. Wednesday will be the four-week mark. Will he be ready by Thursday in Arizona?
"We'll see," Atkinson said. "Haven't talked to the doctor [yet]. Not making any promises, but it's not out of the question."

Atkinson has 13 points (six goals, seven points) in 32 games this season, after setting career-highs in goals (35), assists (27) and points (62) last season. He usually plays in all situations on the ice, including both special teams, so getting him back would be a big help.
The trick is making sure he doesn't come back too soon.
"There's obviously not a worse feeling than watching your teammates go to battle every single night, knowing that you could help the team," Atkinson said. "But that being said, it's just part of the process of letting this heal properly, so there's no setbacks."
Skating doesn't appear to be an issue, as he's been zipping around the ice the past couple practices like there's no issue at all. He said the pain is minimal, except for the pressure a skate boot puts on the area surrounding his surgical wound.
"Initially, getting the boot on is probably the worst part, but when I get out there skating it feels pretty good," said Atkinson, who now has two screws in his foot. "I have a little guard there [on the outside of the skate], kind of protecting it. It's almost the pressure of that, and putting it in the skate] is almost worse with that on, just because it's putting pressure on my wound. But as soon as I get it in [the boot], it feels good."
It felt the exact opposite of good the night the injury occurred.
Standing in front of the Flyers' net with 7:39 left in the first period, Aktinson took a hard slap shot off the outside of his right foot. It was taken by teammate Seth Jones, who launched the puck from the blue line.
Atkinson was right where he was supposed to be, but paid the price.
He dropped to the ice in pain, skated off gingerly and remained on the bench, trying to shake it off. The pain never fully subsided. Regardless, Atkinson finished the game and played 22:26 in the Blue Jackets' 2-1 win against the Flyers - the sixth-highest ice time of his NHL career.
"I'd blocked enough shots where they've been stingers, and you kind of shake your foot and eventually it will go away," Atkinson said. "The worst part was walking, in between periods, back to the locker room. I just couldn't do it. And I didn't want to pull my foot out of my skate."
He knew that if he did, his foot would've swelled beyond the point of allowing him to put it back on.
"I played [22:26] that night," Atkinson said. "It definitely hurt throughout the game, that's for sure, but I think my adrenaline was kind of going. And, if anything, the skate itself was kind of like a cast, kind of compressing everything in there. As soon as I took the skate off …"
He makes a sound like a balloon rapidly filling with air. It swelled a lot, just as he'd figured, which meant it was likely something serious. It also turned out to be a fracture with a fitting medical terminology.
"When I went and saw a doctor, one of the nurses was like, 'Oh yeah, it's the Jones Fracture,'" Atkinson said. "I laughed, because I was like, 'Yeah, because Seth Jones broke my foot.' She said, 'Seth Jones? That's this last name?' I'm like, 'Yeah.'"
The nurse wasn't referring to that Jones. She was talking about Robert Jones, an orthopedic surgeon who in 1902 coined the term for that particular fracture, after he sustained the same injury while dancing.
"So, it's actually called the 'Jones Fracture,'" Atkinson said.
Couldn't fit any better in this case.
"I guess, but he owes me a couple dinners," Atkinson said of Jones, his teammate. "I'm going to take full advantage of that."
News & Notes
-- The Blue Jackets were busy on the trade market Monday, but their two deals pertained more to the Cleveland Monsters of the American Hockey League.
Columbus traded John Ramage, a 26-year old defenseman, to the Arizona Coyotes for future considerations in the first trade, and then acquired goalie Jeff Zatkoff, 30, from the Los Angeles Kings for future considerations.
"Zatkoff gives us some important experience and depth at the goaltending position," Blue Jackets General Manager Jarmo Kekalainen said.
It also gives the Monsters three goalies.
Zatkoff's presence, however, does two things. It gives the Monsters a healthy veteran for AHL rookie Matiss Kivlenieks to share the load with - while Brad Thiessen is out with an injury - and it gives the Blue Jackets that experienced depth Kekalainen mentioned.
Zatkoff is 18-21-4 with a 2.72 goals-against average, .908 save percentage and one shutout in 48 career NHL games, and helped the Pittsburgh Penguins win the Stanley Cup in 2015-16 - going 1-1-0 in two postseason starts.
"This is a seasoned veteran of the National Hockey League who can help us in Cleveland, and who can help us throughout our organization," said Bill Zito, the Blue Jackets' assistant general manager and Monsters' GM.
Ramage, the son of former NHL defenseman Rob Ramage, had nine points (two goals, seven assists) in 33 games for Cleveland this season and 61 points (14 goals, 47 assists) in 170 games in two-plus seasons with the Monsters.
Ramage, who was drafted by the Calgary Flames in the fourth round (103rd overall) of the 2010 NHL Draft, played his first two professional seasons as a Flames prospect. He signed with the Blue Jackets as a free agent July 3, 2015, and helped the Monsters win the AHL's Calder Cup in 2016.
-- The Jackets held another lengthy practice Monday at T-Mobile Arena, which was their third such on-ice workout in a row.
They worked on more drills and situations, sort of like an in-season mini camp. They only did off-ice work Sunday, but practiced hard Friday and Saturday in Columbus, following their 2-1 shootout win there against the Dallas Stars on Thursday.
"We've covered pretty much our whole team concept, as far as with the puck, without the puck," coach John Tortorella said. "It gave us a great opportunity to go over some stuff, and the guys were attentive. They practiced hard. We did a lot of battle drills. The three days, plus the off day, [has been] very beneficial to us."
--Tortorella said he spoke with defenseman Zach Werenski and center Alex Wennberg about trying to let go of any pressures they might be feeling to create offense. Werenski hasn't scored a goal since Dec. 29 in Ottawa (eight games), while Wennberg has struggled most of the season and has missed 14 games with two separate injuries.
"I think the offensive guys, and the chatter around them, we keep waiting for them to bust out," Tortorella said. "I do think they feel that a little bit. As far as coaching them now, I just talked to [Wennberg] and [Werenski] … I want them to let their game go. Don't overthink things, and use your instincts. We did some offensive zone stuff [in practice Monday], but we don't want to choreograph things. We want 'em to use their instincts, and if they just get a little success, that's all these guys need."
-- Goaltending coach Ian Clark wasn't at practice because he didn't make the trip. Clark is in Russia, putting in some work with goaltending prospect Daniil Tarasov - selected by the Blue Jackets in the third round (No. 83) in the 2017 NHL Draft.