Blue Jackets’ Mason Marchment expected to return after missing eight games
A couple of roster moves for a team trying to get out of the Eastern Conference’s cellar.
On Thursday, Columbus Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell announced that forward Mason Marchment has been activated from injured reserve. Also, the team has placed defenseman Denton Mateychuk on IR.
🚨 Team Update 🚨 We've activated F Mason Marchment off Injured Reserve and placed D Denton Mateychuk on Injured Reserve. CBJ x @OHHeartofitAll
Marchment is expected to make his return to the lineup tonight when the Blue Jackets host the Dallas Stars.
Marchment has missed the past eight games with an upper-body injury that he suffered in a game against the Pittsburgh Penguins back on Jan. 4. He was placed on IR shortly thereafter. The Blue Jackets lost three games in a row right after the Uxbridge, Ont. native exited the lineup, though the team has slightly turned things around, having won three games in a row before falling to the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday night.
The 30-year-old came to Columbus last month via trade with the Seattle Kraken, in which the Blue Jackets gave up a couple of draft picks to get the veteran winger. In the seven games he played prior to the injury, Marchment was productive, scoring five goals and two assists for seven points. In 36 games overall this year, he has totaled nine goals and 11 assists for 20 points.
Mateychuk’s placement on IR is retroactive to Jan. 11, when he suffered an upper-body injury against the Utah Mammoth. Per the NHL’s rules, he could return to the lineup whenever he’s healthy and a roster spot is available. Columbus has gone 3-1-0 in his absence.
The Winnipeg native has already set career highs in goals (8), assists (13) and points (21) in 44 games this year.
The Blue Jackets (22-20-7) are seventh in the Metropolitan Division, seven points back of the last Wild Card spot in the East.