No coaches on hand, but some Blue Jackets are back in town early, skating with smiles on

A dozen or so Columbus Blue Jackets players went through a light workout on Monday, their first unofficial meeting since the NHL and the players' union reached a tentative agreement a day earlier after a lengthy lockout.

All said they were pleased just to get back to work.

Forward R.J. Umberger, who spent his idle time as a volunteer coach with his former college team at Ohio State, helped organize things. Veteran defenseman James Wisniewski worked up a sweat along with team newcomers Nick Foligno, a left wing, and Adrian Aucoin, a defenseman. Toronto Maple Leafs center Dave Steckel joined them.

Several Blue Jackets are still overseas. No one yet knows when practices will officially start, or the games will begin.

But the mood was still upbeat.