Columbus Blue Jackets notes: Patrik Laine, Zach Werenski expected to return during trip
EDMONTON, Alberta — The Blue Jackets are steadily on the mend.
After recently getting centers Boone Jenner and Sean Kuraly back from injuries, the Jackets are now closer to getting two more key pieces back during their five-game road trip that starts Tuesday against the Edmonton Oilers.
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Patrik Laine (fractured clavicle) and Zach Werenski (high-ankle sprain) will both miss the game in Edmonton, but they're practicing with the full team and should return to action in short order. Werenski, who's missed nine games since sustaining his injury Dec. 27 in New Jersey, is slightly ahead of Laine and could play as soon as Thursday in Calgary.
“It’s looking good,” Blue Jackets coach Pascal Vincent said. “It’s looking like sooner than later. He feels good. He pushed his conditioning, but he feels good right now, so he’s going to be sooner than later.”
Laine will likely miss the Calgary game, but is expected to play at least once before the trip concludes Jan. 30 in St. Louis, leading into a 10-day span without a game that includes the NHL All-Star break (Feb. 1-3) plus the annual “bye” week teams get as mandated by the collective bargaining agreement between the league and NHL Players’ Association.
Laine hasn’t played since fracturing his collarbone Dec. 14 in Toronto (14 games). His estimated recovery time was six weeks, which arrives Thursday, so he'll be slightly behind schedule.
Rasmus Andersson with a dirty hit on Patrik Laine at the buzzer#Flames | #CBJ pic.twitter.com/bfVjrQYeUC
— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) October 21, 2023
The Jackets play the Calgary Flames on Thursday at Scotiabank Saddledome in a matchup that would’ve been billed as a revenge matchup for Laine, who missed nine games early in the season with a concussion caused by Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson's dirty hit with time running out in the Jackets’ win Oct. 20 at Nationwide Arena.
Laine is just ready to get back on the ice during what's been a trying season for the star forward.
“He’s improving,” Vincent said. “He’s working really hard in practices. I’m really proud of him. So, the goal is hopefully by the end of this trip we’re going to see him playing.”
During practice Monday at Rogers Arena, Laine skated with projected extra forwards Emil Bemstrom and Mathieu Olivier. They formed a fifth line of forwards during line rushes, with Laine centering the group. It would be a surprise, however, if Laine plays center when he returns to action.
Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Adam Boqvist expected to play against Edmonton Oilers
The Blue Jackets had seven defensemen for practice Monday, but they should’ve had eight on the ice.
Adam Boqvist didn’t participate while sick. Vincent said he's expected to play Tuesday against the Oilers, which fits with how practice pairings went.
Rookie David Jiricek, who skated with Werenski as the Jackets' fourth pairing, might be a healthy scratch again Tuesday. He missed back-to-back games as a healthy scratch prior to being assigned to the Cleveland Monsters last week for the purpose of playing back-to-ack AHL games on Friday and Saturday at Rocket Mortgage.
Jiricek rejoined the Blue Jackets on Sunday, but might have to continue waiting for a spot to open. Expect Boqviest to remain partners with Damon Severson on the top pairing if he plays. The other two pairs, barring a gameday change, appear to be Ivan Provorov and Andrew Peeke (second) plus Jake Bean and Erik Gudbranson (third).
Columbus Blue Jackets will not face Edmonton Oilers forward Corey Perry
The Oilers practiced before the Blue Jackets on Monday at Rogers Place and disgraced former Chicago Blackhawks forward Corey Perry joined them for the first time.
Oilers general manager Ken Holland signed Perry to a one-year contract a little more than seven weeks after the veteran forward’s former deal with Chicago was terminated by the Blackhawks for “unacceptable” conduct that GM Kyle Davidson said was a violation of the NHL standard player contract and team policies.
Specifics about his conduct haven’t been made public, but Perry’s exit from Chicago was based on something that happened in Columbus prior to the Blue Jackets’ 7-3 victory over the Blackhawks on Nov. 22 at Nationwide Arena. Perry was supposed to play, but was a surprising scratch.
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His contract was terminated Nov. 30 following an investigation. Perry will not face the Blue Jackets on Tuesday nor the Blackhawks on Thursday in Edmonton. He’s expected to play his first game for the Oilers on Saturday against the Nashville Predators.
@BrianHedger
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Laine, Werenski expected to return during Blue Jackets' road trip Front Headline *
