Damon Severson has worked to stay true to his low-key personality during a long week with the Blue Jackets that felt like an extension of training camp.
After watching the Jackets split their first two games a week ago, Severson is now cleared to play. He's returning from a shoulder surgery that sidelined him for the final 10 games of last season and played a significant role in the team missing the playoffs a second straight time.
"I’m trying to fly under the radar," Severson said after practice Oct. 8. "I was trying to [do that] all week. ... Just come back and fit right in.”
If that's how his return to the top defensive pairing with Zach Werenski goes Oct. 9 against the Pittsburgh
Penguins, it could lead to good things for Severson, Werenski and the team.
Keep it simple. Nothing fancy. Stay under the radar.
"You watch him out in practice, and his skill level, his hockey IQ, his mobility ... like, he was playing great hockey for us last year," Blue Jackets coach Rick Bowness said. "So, we’re all thrilled to have him back, without a doubt, but I’m sure the guys sitting in that [locker] room [are most thrilled]. If you’re sitting there and he’s sitting there with you going into the battle? You feel pretty good that he’s there.”
Imagine hearing that in April 2025, when Severson's struggles under former coach Dean Evason led to him watching the Blue Jackets fall two points shy of qualifying for the playoffs as a healthy scratch in the final nine games. Showing up for training camp a year ago motivated to reclaim a key role, Severson regained Evason's trust before Bowness was hired in a mid-season coaching switch that led to an even bigger boost to Severson's play and responsibilities.
He joined Werenski on the top pairing, settled into a consistent groove and absorbed some critical minutes before injuring his shoulder on a fairly common hit in a 1-0 loss March 26 in Montreal. Returning to the lineup six months later, Severson is stepping right back into his vacated spot.
He's not the only one excited.
“He’s got so much skill and makes so many plays out there," Werenski said. "He just makes the play that’s available to him, and that’s really easy to read off. If there’s [an option] there, he gives it to him. If I’m open, he gives it to me. If he gets open [he takes it] ... it’s just very easy to read off 'Sevo.' "
It doesn't hurt that Severson shoots from the right side, which pairs nicely with Werenski's left-handed shot on the offensive blue line and while trying to break the puck out of the defensive zone. Severson's return also gives Bowness additional lineup depth, moving Denton Mateychuk to his more familiar second pairing and moving newcomer Emil Andrae to the third.
Jake Christiansen is expected to be the odd man out as a depth option while injured defensemen Ivan Provorov (lower body) and Dante Fabbro (upper body) are out week-to-week.
"I’ve been looking forward to it for a while," Severson said. "What I’ve been saying all along, throughout camp, is that we have such a huge October month. It’s just so important to have a good start here, and we’ve got a lot of games at home. So, I’m looking forward to being back in the lineup with the guys, and hopefully having a good [return]."
Dispatch Blue Jackets/Crew reporter Brian Hedger can be reached at bhedger@dispatch.com
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Damon Severson's return for Columbus Blue Jackets bolsters defense
