Blue Jackets’ Boone Jenner injury described as ‘not short term’

The Columbus Blue Jackets will be without center Boone Jenner for the next while. On Thursday, head coach Dean Evason told reporters that he would be sidelined and that the injury was “not short term.”

The 32-year-old Jenner had started well in the 2025-26 NHL regular season, scoring three goals and 10 points in 16 games, including a pair of power play goals. However, he sustained an upper body injury against the Seattle Kraken on Tuesday night. 

Jenner left the bench just after the four minute mark of the second period after taking just a single shift in the frame and did not return to the contest which ended 2–1 in favor of the Blue Jackets. 

While the organization and Evason did not indicate a timeline for a return, he will likely miss Thursday’s clash at home against the Edmonton Oilers. His absence leaves a void in the lineup, and Evason will likely turn to Yegor Chinakhov or Zach Aston-Reese to feature more prominently to make up the minutes. 

Last season, Jenner was limited to 56 games and he has not hit the 70-game mark since the 2019-20 NHL season. 

Although Columbus will miss Jenner, they will welcome center Kent Johnson back into the lineup against the Oilers after he missed the game against the Kraken. Johnson, 23, has two goals and five points in 15 games with the Blue Jackets this season. 

Columbus enter Thursday night’s matchup sitting last in the Eastern Conference Metropolitan Division with an 8-7-1 record and 17 points through 16 games. Yet, they are only two points short of the Philadelphia Flyers for the final Wild Card spot as American Thanksgiving looms.

After taking on the Oilers, the Blue Jackets will look ahead to wrapping up their three game home stand with a Saturday night clash with the New York Rangers, and Monday meeting with the Montréal Canadiens.