Columbus Blue Jackets place Patrik Laine on injured reserve
As expected, the Columbus Blue Jackets have placed forward Patrik Laine on injured reserve following a clavicle feature that sidelined him for six weeks.
Laine suffered the ailment on Dec. 14, 6-5 overtime loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The incident occurred in the second period following an awkward collision with Maple Leafs defenseman William Lagesson.
This move gives the Blue Jackets an open roster spot.
Hearing #CBJ has placed Patrik Laine on injured reserve. A formality at this point given his injury, but it does open up a roster spot for them.
— Mark Scheig (@mark_scheig) December 18, 2023Laine has six goals and three assists for nine points in 18 games through the 2023-24 season so far. The Finnish forward has struggled with injuries and missed nine games earlier this year due to an upper-body injury, and another three games this month due to an illness. Laine also found himself as a healthy scratch last month after struggling to score.
The 25-year-old also missed 24 games last year due to various injuries and another two from COVID-19. He notched 22 goals and 52 points in 55 games.
Laine is currently in year two of a four-year, $34,800,000 million contract extension he signed with the Blue Jackets in 2022. The contract holds an average annual value of $8,700,000 and has a 10-team no-trade clause. Since arriving in Columbus via trade from the Winnipeg Jets for Pierre-Luc Dubois, Laine has tallied 64 goals and 74 assists for 138 points in 174 games.
The Blue Jackets currently sit last in the Metropolitan Division with a 10-17-5 record to go with 25 points. They sit four points back of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Columbus is set to face off against the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday.