Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Erik Gubranson out indefinitely after shoulder surgery
Cross another key member of the Blue Jackets' leadership group off the roster for most, if not all, of what's left this season.
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Erik Gudbranson, a veteran defenseman and alternate captain, is out indefinitely after undergoing surgery Monday to repair his right shoulder. The Blue Jackets issued a release about the surgery Tuesday that didn't specify what was surgically repaired or how long it could take to rehab it.
Gudbranson, 33, was injured during an accidental collision with teammate Sean Monahan during the second period of the Blue Jackets' 4-3 loss to the Florida Panthers on Tuesday at Nationwide Arena. He's on injured reserve with captain Boone Jenner, who also needed shoulder surgery in early October.
"It's a big hole, right?" Blue Jackets coach Dean Evason said. "His presence is big. He's big, physically, but he's a leader in our locker room, obviously. He's an (alternate) captain and a guy we've relied on. He's played extremely well all through training camp and to this point, and it's unfortunate we don't have him in our lineup. A lot of guys will have to step up."
Gudbranson is in the third year of a four-year contract worth $4 million a year, which he signed July 1, 2022 as an unrestricted free agent. Since coming to Columbus from the Calgary Flames, the 6 foot 5, 222-pound defenseman has provided a sturdy presence in the locker room and lineup, skating primarily on the right side of the third defense pairing.
Gudbranson has also handled the role of "sheriff" for the Blue Jackets on the ice, providing toughness, grit and muscle that has kept opposing teams honest during physical confrontations. Not having him available most of the season puts that onus squarely onto power forward Mathieu Olivier and veteran defenseman Jack Johnson going forward.
Gudbranson's absence also creates a hole on the third pairing, which is initially being filled by a combination of Johnson, Jordan Harris and David Jiricek — who made his season debut Saturday against the Minnesota Wild and will play Tuesday against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
"(Gudbranson) plays a major role in our penalty kill and defensive zone coverage, so we fully expect guys to step up and take the minutes that he was getting," Evason said. "It's a loss, but now two other guys can step up, or more, in a leadership role. We're very fortunate. We've got a lot of leaders in that dressing room, so there's a lot of guys that Boone and 'Goody' have taught how to lead and we expect them to step up as we move forward."
Since signing with the Blue Jackets, Gudbranson has contributed seven goals, 32 assists and 39 points, 215 hits and 310 blocked shots in 151 games.
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Shoulder surgery to keep Blue Jackets' Erik Gudbranson out long-term
