What happened: Knies is making his scheduled Blue Jackets debut after the trade that sent him to Columbus. Columbus leads Buffalo 4-3 in a live preseason game.

Why it matters: The outing offers an early look at how Knies fits in Columbus after a trade that reshaped both clubs before the season. His involvement will keep attention on how quickly the Blue Jackets can fold a major addition into their preseason mix.

What to watch: Watch how heavily Columbus leans on Knies as the game moves on. The rest of the night will sharpen the early read on his role with his new club.