The Columbus Blue Jackets announced team captain Boone Jenner suffered a fractured thumb, which will sideline him for approximately four weeks. Jenner was injured during a loss to the Florida Panthers on Tuesday, December 13th.
Boone Jenner Added to Long List of Injuries for the Blue Jackets
Jenner, the Blue Jackets’ leading goal scorer with 11, will have surgery on Tuesday to repair the fracture and will miss four weeks. This injury just adds to the Blue Jackets season long plague of injuries that have landed them near the basement of the league standings. Jenner, struck by a shot in the Florida Panthers game, tried to play through the injury. Wearing a splint on his injured thumb, Jenner was able to score a goal in the Blue Jackets’ 4-2 loss to Boston on Saturday. The Jenner injury means the Jackets have nearly $30 million dollars in payroll on the injured reserve.
Dunne Called Up
The Blue Jackets called up center Josh Dunne from Cleveland to take Jenner’s spot on the roster. Dunne, 24, is having a good year in the AHL, with career highs in assists (6) and points (11).
Sillinger Out Day-to-Day
Young center Cole Sillinger is out of the lineup tonight when the Blue Jackets face the Dallas Stars at home. Sillinger, 19, left Saturday’s game against Boston with an upper-body injury and is day-to-day. Sillinger’s sophomore season has been a struggle. With just two goals and four assists in 30 games, Sillinger has regressed from his 31-point rookie campaign. The Blue Jackets hoped Sillinger would progress to a first-line center candidate but has been used mostly lower in the lineup. The Blue Jackets continue to look for a center worthy of playing on a top line with wingers Johnny Gaudreau and Patrik Laine.
Johnson Elevated to First Line
Rookie Kent Johnson will get a shot at centring the top line between Gaudreau and Laine against Dallas tonight. Johnson has registered six goals and eight assists in 27 games this season. Blue Jackets Head Coach Brad Larsen is running out of candidates because of injury. Larsen started the preseason with Johnson at centre but has played him exclusively on the wing. Tonight, Johnson will look to stick on the top line.
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