Usually the 10th game in an expansion team’s season isn’t any more special than just another game. Usually.Tonight’s game at Nationwide Arena against the Washington Capitals does have significance because of one man: rookie defenseman Rostislav Klesla.If Klesla is on the ice tonight, it will mean that the Columbus Blue Jackets have decided to keep their first-ever draft pick at the NHL level. If he’s not on the ice, Klesla will return to his junior team, the Brampton Battalion.Klesla spent the 1999-2000 season with Brampton and enjoyed a big season. He netted 16 goals and notched 29 helpers for 45 points, in just 67 games. He also notched 174 penalty minutes for the Battalion. Returning to Brampton for another winter would certainly result in much more impressive statistics, but Klesla said his personal numbers and short-term feelings were secondary to the big picture. “Of course I want to stay here, but it’s whatever is best for me and the team,” Klesla said.The Jackets’ staff, namely general manager Doug MacLean and head coach Dave King, were given nine games to decide if Klesla would remain a member of the team. If that is the case, the rookie will be awarded his three-year, $3.22 million contract which was signed on Oct. 3.If Klesla is sent to the juniors, his contract will slide until the 2001-2002 season.The 18 year old has made the decision tough for the Blue Jackets staff, especially when he scored the lone goal for Columbus in their 3-1 loss to the San Jose Sharks on Wednesday night. It was the second goal for the rookie this season.”When a player does that, it always makes the decisions tough,” King said. “It was a skilled goal, a beautiful play. We’ve really got a great player. We want to make sure we’re making the smart move in his long-term development.”In the short-term, Klesla has gotten a lot of ice time this season, not only at full strength but also with the power play and penalty-killing units.Working Klesla into more ice time has been a slow and careful process, much like the decision about his future. In the Jackets’ first game, Klesla saw 15:59 of ice time. On Wednesday night, the rookie skated for 22:41.It isn’t that Klesla lacks the talent or the dedication to remain at the professional level; it has more to do with his inexperience and the fact he is a member of an expansion team.”In this league, you can see how difficult things are going to be for us,” King said. “We want to make sure he’s in a situation that’s really best for him in terms of social development, skills as a player, everything.”As a native of the Czech Republic, it is not unusual for the European players to arrive young in the NHL. Even many of the Canadian and American players begin their professional careers at an early age.Jaromir Jagr, Bobby Hull and Wayne Gretzky were all 18 years old when they played in their first NHL games.The one difference is that they are all forwards. A closer look reveals that defenseman tend to develop at a later age.Ray Bourque, Chris Pronger, Paul Coffey and Marcel Pronovost were all 19 years old in their first seasons. Chris Chelios and Pierre Pilote were 21 years of age when they started out in the NHL.All six defensemen drafted in the first round along with Klesla this year have been taken off their team’s rosters.Does one or two years make that much of a difference? Apparently so, as the Blue Jackets have taken the full nine games to make the decision on Klesla.”Whatever happens, I can take it,” Klesla said. “I’m not going to be mad at anyone. I can always improve in the juniors.”Regardless, the cannon of a slapshot and strong blue line play will be central to the development of the franchise from its infancy to an eventual run at a championship.Whatever happens, Klesla will be the superstar talent that will eventually make the Columbus Blue Jackets contenders in this league.