Blue Jackets Face Common Challenge Overcoming Major Injuries – Hockey Writers –

Just four games into the new season, the Columbus Blue Jackets are already facing a familiar challenge. It's one they can't seem to shake.

Not only are injuries occurring in abundance, major injuries are taking their most important players out. The most recent example was Thursday night's unusual game during the Blue Jackets' 6-4 victory over the Buffalo Sabres.

Kent Johnson had to leave Thursday's game after colliding with James van Riemsdyk. The news is not good for him as the Blue Jackets prepare for their game on Saturday night against the Minnesota Wild.

Johnson is out for a long time

The Blue Jackets are not releasing specifics when it comes to injuries. However, head coach Dean Evason admitted Saturday morning that Johnson's injury is “not short-term.”

That is yet another blow to a team that had to face many obstacles in the beginning. So far, Johnson has not been placed on IR. But the expectation is that that will happen when the team shares any kind of official update.

“Don (Waddell) and I talked about it this morning,” Evason said. “Don doesn't like to give times. I don't give the times, but it's not a short time.”

Johnson started the new season well with five points in his first four games while recording at least a point in every game he played. As for who will take his place to the right of Adam Fantilli, the expectation is that it will be Justin Danforth.

Danforth returned Thursday from season-ending wrist surgery. He said the injury happened at the end of last season against the Carolina Hurricanes. He says he felt good in his first game of the new season.

“I felt really good,” Danforth said. “We have high-quality staff who prepare me well and prepare me to play. So I felt much better.”

Danforth's final hurdle was to show that he could handle some of the game's visuals. Once he was able to tear things apart by hand, all plans were in motion.

“The last part of it was puck battles, 1-on-1 using the upper hand to get the most,” Danforth said. “We just did a few practices where I had (Jared Boll) leaning on me, going against guys 1-on-1 down the floor and I felt like I was ready to go.”

Danforth has played with Fantilli before so joining his line will not be new for him. You know you have a mission when they are together.

“I felt good for him,” Danforth said of Fantilli. “He wants the puck on his stick as much as possible. I think my job when I play with him is to just get him the ball and make sure I can look forward and turn the puck over so he has the puck on his stick. I feel like when he has a stick on his stick, good things happen.”

You May Love It Again

Coach Evason liked what he saw on the Danforth Thursday night. It's part of the reason why he gets a bump on the second line because of the rash of injuries.

Changing things up on the ice tonight 👊@COSI | #CBJ pic.twitter.com/BUS5Szt4oo

– Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) October 19, 2024

“He really loved his energy, loved his competitiveness, his puck battles,” Evason said. “Actually, he told me a few days ago that one of his concerns when he came back was that he couldn't win those puck battles when he had that tournament. He is worried about injuries. I told him in detail that the coaches said it had nothing to do with your hands. It all has to do with your will and your desire. And he has both of those, punishments that were killed for us. He played a lot especially when (Johnson) was down. We had to put him in a different possible role. (He) played a lot of minutes. (He'll be) a big part of our team obviously tonight and moving forward.”

As for what to expect Saturday wise, Evason confirmed that it will be an 11-7 setup as David Jiricek will be making his season debut. Since it was an optional morning skate, here's what the proposed lines look like for the Blue Jackets.

• Yegor Chinakhov-Sean Monahan-Kirill Marchenko
• Zach Aston-Reese-Adam Fantilli-Justin Danforth
• Mikael Pyyhtia-Cole Sillinger-Mathieu Olivier
• James van Riemsdyk-Sean Kuraly
• Zach Werenski-Ivan Provorov
• Jake Christiansen-Damon Severson
• Jack Johnson-Jordan Harris
• David Jiricek
• Daniel Tarasov starts. Jet Greaves helps.

Side dishes

• As mentioned, Jiricek is making his first season. He admitted that it was difficult to get out but his colleagues helped him in that. His practice and preparation were good enough in Evason's eyes that this opportunity came his way.
• Chinakhov will play on Saturday after missing practice on Friday due to a lower body injury.
• Kevin Labanc started on the second line but will now be healthy for the second straight game. Evason had to change things because of injuries. But it's also a competition for the most ice time. “So there is a healthy competition in our room. Hopefully, everyone wants to step up and play a big role at the hockey club.”
• Evason says 11-7 can be a useful strategy. “I think there are strategic things. Then you can get other people to participate and you can double the guys you feel like a good team. There is good and bad. But if we use it as a positive thing and hopefully get everyone involved, it will benefit us greatly.”
• Elvis Merzlikins is still out with a physical injury. He did not skate with the senior team on Saturday.
• Erik Gudbranson will be out for a long time. The team has not released any other details. He was seen at home on Thursday night.
• We'll end with some good injury news. Seriously. Both Dmitri Voronkov and Cayden Lindstrom skated alone on Saturday. Voronkov's upper body injury did not require surgery so his return time is within the foreseeable future. As for Lindstrom, the Blue Jackets have been cautious with him. The fact that you are going through the snow is a good sign that things are going in the right direction. He will go to junior when he is ready.
• For the Blue Jackets, it will be an afterthought when it comes to their injury situation. Even though they are very familiar with this, the only thing they can do is move forward with who is there. They have no other choice.