Danforth happy to be making an impact for Blue Jackets

Blue Jackets forward Justin Danforth has had a hot start to the season, placing tied for second on the team with five goals. It's a good feeling after Danforth was able to play in only six games last season because of a torn labrum in his shoulder.

The Oshawa, Ontario, native has had a unique path to this NHL roster. He spent four years at Sacred Heart University in Connecticut and has become the first player from the school to play in the NHL. During his time in college, he played in 147 career games, earning 42-82-124 from 2013-17.  

After graduating, was the ECHL Rookie of the Year in Cincinnati in 2017-18 and had stints with two AHL teams before going abroad to play for Lukko in the Finnish Liiga for two seasons, posting a 45-67-112 line. He then played in 58 games in the KHL, posting nearly a point per game (23-32-55) for Vityaz during the 2020-21 season. 

All that success internationally caught the eye of the Blue Jackets, who signed Danforth as a free agent on May 3, 2021. He went on to play 45 games for the Jackets during the 2021-22 season, putting up 10 goals and four assists for 14 points.   

Danforth said his success this season has been a product of the team's hard work and attributed it to his linemates' ability to come together. In recent games, the combination of Danforth with Sean Kuraly and Alexandre Texier has been one of the most productive units on the squad.

“I think we're working on our game together here,” he said. “We kind of know where each other are gonna be, and Tex has a bunch of skill but we play a very simple game – get pucks in and try and win them back and get to the net. When we turn pucks over, we can make plays, so it's been fun playing it over the last couple of games.”

Danforth in particular has been dangerous of late, scoring two goals and adding an assist in the past five games. Yesterday in Philadelphia, he was elevated to play on the top line with Boone Jenner and Johnny Gaudreau, earning a career-high 20:54 of ice time.

Danforth has played in each game of the season so far, which has added up to more starts than last season because of the shoulder injury, which required surgery. He says he spent the offseason preparing to play the whole season this time around.

“Things have been going pretty well. I feel good,” he said. “I trained over the summer for an 82-game season, so I feel like my body is ready to go and it will hold up.”

Blue Jackets head coach Pascal Vincent said he is pleased with Danforth’s start on the season.  

“I am really happy with him,” Vincent said. “It has been a long recovery for him. He is a really good pro. He puts the time in. He is a very serious guy, serious about his craft. So he is another guy that I am not surprised about. He is just a solid professional hockey player that takes it very seriously, and we are seeing the results.”  

At the start of the season Danforth signed a one-year contract extension through the 2024-25 season worth $1.1 million with the club.   

Danforth hopes for a long season of continued success for this squad. The Jackets take the ice again on Wednesday when they take on Chicago at Nationwide Arena.