Blue Jackets’ Boone Jenner undergoes shoulder surgery, hopeful to be back during 2024-25 season

The Columbus Blue Jackets are going to be without their captain for the foreseeable future, as the team announced forward Boone Jenner underwent successful shoulder surgery on Wednesday.

The Blue Jackets are hopeful with intense rehabilitation, Jenner should be in line to return to Columbus’ lineup at some point this season. The 31-year-old suffered the injury on Oct.4, while practicing with the team.

Blue Jackets’ GM Don Waddell stated via a team statement, Jenner’s loss is another player’s gain, as opportunity now knocks for several of the team’s forwards. “Boone Jenner had successful shoulder surgery on Wednesday. He’ll begin his rehabilitation very soon and our hope is he can return before the end of the season,” said Waddell. “His loss will be felt by our club, but we have a strong leadership group in place and players will be given an opportunity to take on greater roles on and off the ice.”

Jenner appeared in 58 games last season, registering 22 goals and 35 points. Originally a 2011 second-round pick, Jenner has had some injury troubles throughout his 11-year career, all with the Blue Jackets. The Dorchester, ON native has only played in all 82 games just twice, as he was getting set for his 12th NHL season.

Jenner has registered 192 goals and 172 assists for 364 points with 410 penalty minutes and 1,790 shots on goal in 715 career games with the Blue Jackets, since making his NHL debut in 2013-14. He was named team captain ahead of the 2021-22 season, becoming the seventh captain in team history. The Blue Jackets’ leader sits atop the franchises in games played, and ranks third in goals and points.

Columbus begins their 2024-25 season on Thursday night, when they head to Minnesota to take on the Wild at the Xcel Energy Center. Both teams are looking to do whatever they can to get back into the Stanley Cup Playoff picture this season.