The Columbus Blue Jackets have been dealt a tough blow as they announced that defenseman Zach Werenski is expected to miss 1-2 weeks after a knee-on-knee hit in their game against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
The injury occurred in the second period of the game when Werenski was hit by Lightning forward Cedric Paquette. The hit sent Werenski to the ice and he had to be helped off the ice by trainers. After the game, Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella said that Werenski had suffered a knee injury and would be out for at least a week.
This is a huge loss for the Blue Jackets, as Werenski has been one of their best players this season. He leads all defensemen on the team in points with 11 goals and 24 assists in 50 games. He also leads the team in ice time, averaging 24:17 minutes per game.
The Blue Jackets will have to find a way to replace Werenski’s production and ice time while he is out. They have called up defenseman Gabriel Carlsson from their AHL affiliate, the Cleveland Monsters, to fill in for Werenski. Carlsson has played in 10 games for the Blue Jackets this season, recording two assists.
The Blue Jackets will also need to rely on their other defensemen to step up in Werenski’s absence. Seth Jones, Ryan Murray, and Markus Nutivaara will all need to take on a bigger role in order for the Blue Jackets to stay competitive in the playoff race.
It is unfortunate that Werenski suffered this injury, but hopefully he will be able to return soon and help the Blue Jackets make a push for the playoffs.
