With Patrik Laine missing his first game since suffering an oblique injury, Voracek is slated to skate on a line tonight with rookie winger Yegor Chinakhov (20 years old) and rookie center Cole Sillinger (at 18, the youngest player in the NHL), with their combined age creeping perilously close to Voracek's number.
But in some ways, that's what the 14th-year veteran from the Czech Republican expected when he was traded back to the Blue Jackets this offseason.
"When you get traded to a young as the oldest guy on the team, you're going to play with young guys," Voracek said. "That's the way I look at it. Obviously (Sillinger is) 18, Chinny is 20, so 38 total. I'm not there yet. I'm going to get there, but not yet.
"But nothing is going to change. They are fast players, they play fast games and we'll see how it goes."
Both youngsters have certainly impressed this year, with Sillinger coming off a two-goal game Wednesday in Colorado and Chinakhov showing poise, understanding of the game and a willingness to shoot the puck despite going scoreless in his first five NHL games.
In other words, the two are young, with 14 NHL games between them, but Voracek doesn't see any reason to smother them as a mentor figure tonight when they play with one another.
"You don't want to put too much information in their heads, right?" Voracek said. "They are young players, but they made the team. They are good enough to play in the NHL, so obviously we are going to talk about some plays, but you don't want to overwhelm them. I know when somebody starts talking too much, it's annoying, so I don't want to do that."
