Portland Winterhawk teammates Bittner and Bjorkstrand reunited as Blue Jackets
Joining a new team can feel a lot like a first day of school. There are a lot of new faces to meet and things to learn. It can be a bit intimidating. But for one of the newest Blue Jackets, Paul Bittner, drafted 38th overall in the 2015 NHL Draft, the learning process is going to be a little easier since he already has one friend on the team.
Oliver Bjorkstrand, drafted by the Jackets in 2013, is coming off a record-making season with the Portland Winterhawks of the Western Hockey League (WHL) where he played on a line with Bittner. Both are now in Columbus for his development camp â Bittner's first and Bjorkstrand's third.
Bjorkstrand, who was WHL player of the year, and led the WHL in goals, points and plus/minus, not only had chemistry with Bittner on the ice, the two became good friends off-ice as well and when draft time came along, Bjorkstrand was checking in on his buddy the whole way.
After becoming a Blue Jacket, Bittner heard from Bjorkstrand immediately. The two talked via text and phone not just to celebrate, but also for Bjorkstrand to offer his once-again teammate development camp tips on what to pack and what to wear.
"I'd talked a little bit to Columbus about (Bittner)," Bjorkstrand said. "I watched the Draft this year on TV, just waiting for his name to get called up. I was hoping he'd get drafted here."
The two were reunited Sunday in Columbus for the first time since their Winterhawks season ended earlier this Spring.
It absolutely helps to have someone you know here," Bittner said. "You come in here not really knowing a lot of people and you want to try to make friends as soon as possible so you can build that chemistry and hopefully, one day down the road, you have that chemistry in the NHL so it's nice to have people you know coming in."
And the chemistry between Bittner and Bjorkstrand could be worth rekindling in the future. Last season, the two combined for 97 goals and 189 points, with 63 of those goals coming from Bjorkstrand. Bjorkstrand assisted on 17 of Bittner's goals, while Bittner provided the helper on 18 of Bjorkstrand's.
While Bittner will return to the WHL next year, Bjorkstrand has his sights set on playing with the Lake Erie Monsters or making it to the Blue Jackets roster. Both young men will be looking to make an impact.
"I think I can be one of the leaders in the Portland program," Bittner said. "It'll be challenging, but fun."
Both Bittner and Bjorkstrand will be forging new paths with the Blue Jackets, but they're happy to remain teammates in the same organization for the foreseeable future.
"It feels really good to know we're still teammates," Bittner said. "Oliver's a great guy I love hanging out with him off the ice too. It's really comforting to have him here."
