Columbus Blue Jackets: Laine 'day-to-day' after Andersson hit, Predators claim Foudy
MINNEAPOLIS — Rasmus Andersson’s elbow to Patrik Laine’s head in the Blue Jackets’ 3-1 win over the Calgary Flames on Friday night at Nationwide Arena caused more damage than just the bloody nose he got for delivering it.
Laine didn’t make the trip to Minnesota with the Blue Jackets after the game, won’t play against the Minnesota Wild on Saturday night at Xcel Energy Center and is now day-to-day with an upper-body injury caused by Andersson’s hit. Mathieu Olivier will draw back into the lineup to replace Laine as the only lineup change for the Blue Jackets (2-2-0).
Elvis Merzlikins is scheduled to start in net against the Wild after an illness forced him out of starting against Calgary.
Andersson is scheduled to have a hearing with the NHL’s department of player safety. It will be conducted by phone, not in person, which means any suspension will not exceed five games. Andersson's only brush with NHL supplemental discipline was a fine for roughing two years ago, which could be factored into whatever action the league takes.
Blue Jackets coach Pascal Vincent was clear about his feelings on Andersson’s hit, which occurred right near the Columbus bench in the game’s waning seconds. After getting a live view, Vincent reviewed replays to see Laine take an elbow to the side of his head from Andersson while attempting to shoot at the Flames’ empty net.
“I see a hit to the head and lifting his feet” Vincent said. “I saw the replay. That’s illegal in my book, so we’ll let the NHL deal with it.”
Blue Jackets players dealt with it in their own way.
Laine was slow to leave, but the other four Blue Jackets skaters on the ice responded during a scuffle that followed. Defenseman Erik Gudbranson went after his former Flames teammate and bloodied his nose before players were separated. Fans booed loudly after Andersson's penalty was announced and the horn finally sounded to end the game.
“We’re a pack here and we protect each other,” Vincent said. “(The hit) was on ‘Patty.’ It could’ve been on anyone. That’s how we’re going to respond. That’s what a team looks like.”
Columbus Blue Jackets lose forward Liam Foudy to Nashville Predators via NHL waiver claim
Liam Foudy is no longer a Blue Jackets forward after the Nashville Predators claimed him off waivers Saturday.
Foudy, the 18th overall pick in the 2018 NHL draft, played one game for the Blue Jackets this season and was a healthy scratch for two others. Foudy, 23, played his first full NHL season last year, finishing with seven goals, seven assists and 14 points in 62 games.
He scored his first NHL goal in the Blue Jackets' upset victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs during the 2020 playoff qualification round held in the Toronto "COVID bubble."
Foudy made his NHL debut earlier that season during an injury glut in Columbus. He then dealt with his own injury, a shoulder tear, that ended his 2021-22 season prematurely with the Cleveland Monsters of the American Hockey League. Last season, Foudy struggled until breaking through with his first regular-season goal Feb. 19 at the Dallas Stars.
During another spate of Blue Jackets injuries, he carved out a regular role in the lineup and appeared to turn a corner in the season's final two months. This season, he never gained traction in the preseason and was placed on waivers Friday to make room for Zach Werenski's return from a thigh contusion.
Foudy was an attractive waiver target for the Predators due to his age, speed, prospect pedigree and cheap one-year, $762,500 contract.
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Blue Jackets: Laine injured on Andersson hit, Foudy claimed
