Ryan Murray working hard to live up to expectations in Columbus

Ryan Murray is determined to prove Jarmo Kekalainen right for having confidence in him.

In an offseason wherein the Columbus Blue Jackets general manager added Stanley Cup-winners Brandon Saad and Gregory Campbell to the lineup, Kekalainen is on record as saying a healthy Murray would be the team's best acquisition heading into next season.

Drafted second overall by the club in 2012, Murray's second NHL season was derailed by a lingering knee injury and a high ankle sprain, limiting him to only 12 games in 2014-15.

Murray has been diligent in reaching peak physical condition ahead of training camp, and knows the proof that he's ready to accept the role envisioned for him will be in the pudding.

"It's great to hear that they have that confidence in me, but at the same time, I have to show up and prove it," Murray told Rob Mixer of BlueJackets.com. "Right now, I'm not thinking too much about opening night, I'm just thinking about the things I need to do on a day-to-day basis to get ready. Once we get closer to playing actual games, I'll be focusing on that more but right now it's the one-step-at-a-time approach still.

"It's barely even August, right? So I'm excited, anxious I guess, but there's a long way to go until training camp, and I have to keep working at it."

Altogether, Murray has appeared in 78 games for the Blue Jackets, with five goals and 24 assists to his credit.

Clearly seen as a core piece, Murray appears ready to do his part in terms of building a winner in Columbus.

"We have a young team and every single one of us has something to prove. That's our approach. We have the pieces in here, we all truly believe that."