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More than an enforcer

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Updated Nov 13, 2009 12:21 PM ET
     
 
Believe it or not, it hasn't always been this way for Cam Janssen. There was a time, growing up, when he was valued as a goal scorer. During his youth hockey career in St. Louis, at the Triple-A level, he once had 50 goals to go with more than 300 minutes in penalties in about 40 games. He could do things besides fight. But somewhere along the line, between his early teens and his NHL career, that Cam Janssen got lost. Maybe, at least on some levels, he is back. Janssen isn't going to score 50 goals, mind you, unless he plays 50 seasons. But the Blues forward is earning respect for other contributions. He is being valued for contributions other than fighting. "I think he's improved as a player," coach Andy Murray said. "He's playing physical without taking penalties. There's no question the referees are looking when he's on the ice. So he's improved his skills and he's improved his discipline in terms of being physical and knowing when to be physical." It's not easy for Janssen to escape his roughhouse reputation. In 175 NHL games, he has 390 minutes in penalties and 49 recorded fights. Two of those bouts came on Tuesday, as he helped the Blues establish a physical hierarchy while defeating the Canucks, 6-1. At the same time, in those same 175 games, Janssen has two NHL goals, meaning he averages a goal for every 195 PIMs and 24.5 fights. As he looks back, Janssen realizes he began to drift toward the hostile side during two seasons with the junior league St. Louis Sting 10 years ago. "That's when I definitely started getting in that fighting role," said Janssen, 25. "We had so many different coaches and it was just a big mess, so unstructured. I just started fighting all the time. ... I don't know what it was. It was the first year you could fight without being ejected, and I just fought all the time and kind of got away from becoming a better player." That developmental pothole became a Catch-22 situation. The more Janssen fought, the better fighter he became. The better fighter he became, the more he became thought of as a fighter. It's not an evolution he regrets. Fighting, according to Janssen, is "in the genes." While Murray calls Janssen's vocation the "toughest job there is," Janssen revels in it. "Once I was allowed to fight, I wanted to," Janssen said. "Don't get me wrong, it's the hardest thing in the world to do. ... But it's just in me; it's in my blood. I like sticking up for my teammates. Sometimes I need to relax on it and play the game, be more calm out there." In 80 games with the Blues, over parts of three seasons, Janssen has, at times, demonstrated there is more in the lunch pail than knuckle sandwiches. To that end, he worked especially hard over the summer, attending skating sessions with defenseman Erik Johnson and Blues Hall of Famer Al MacInnis three times a week. Janssen worked on the skills and intangibles he had neglected for so long. He prepared himself for work in areas outside hockey law enforcement. Janssen also has worked to harness his genetic combustibility and put it toward more productive ends. Tuesday night was a perfect example. Janssen drew a two-minute instigating penalty from Darcy Hordichuk before fighting the Canucks forward. In the end, the Blues wound up with a power play that David Perron converted to complete his first NHL hat trick. His improvement in both puck skills and mental approach has earned him more playing time. On Tuesday against Vancouver, Janssen played 7 minutes, 36 seconds, skating on a line with Keith Tkachuk and David Backes. It was the third time Janssen has exceeded seven minutes in shifts this season. He has exceeded the 5-minute mark eight times. All the while, he is a plus-1 on the plus-minus tote board. And he is gaining respect as a player who can be defensively responsible and provide energy. "He had a tendency, when he was in New Jersey and was a minute-and-a-half or two-minute player, that every time he was out there he was going to run someone," Murray said. "We want him to play and run people." Anyone who has been to a Blues game realizes Janssen brings a special dynamic to the ice, particularly at Scottrade Center. When the "Cam-inator" hops over the boards, the buzz in the building is palpable. When he crashes an opposing player into the boards, the sound is different and the crowd response immediate. With the possible exception of T.J. Oshie, no other Blues player creates as much kinetic energy. Energy — and a little dose of fear — can be a most desirable commodity. "My penalty minutes have all been from my fights, basically," Janssen said. "You need to have different elements. You can't just go out there and be a fighter, because that's just fading away. You have to be able to hit guys. You've got to be a pest. You have to be able to intimidate guys with hits, back that up and stick up for your teammates as well. "If you have that combination, you're going to have an effective role and teams are going to want you. You don't need to be just a fighter. Now, I feel like I'm starting to put that together." In short, Cam Janssen is finding he doesn't have to start a fight to deliver a punch for the Blues.
Tagged: Cam Janssen, Blues, Canucks

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