The Columbus Blue Jackets kick off the pre-season at home tonight with an exhibition match against the Buffalo Sabres.
Jackets' coach John Tortorella says the first few games will be a test for rookies and new players.
Despite a franchise first advance to the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs last season, the team lost several important free agents over the summer, including leading scorer Artemi Panarin and goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky. Tortorella says he will be expecting more of some of the team's veteran, like Cam Atkinson and captain Nick Foligno.
