The Columbus Blue Jackets have placed defenseman Nick Blankenburgcenter Sean Kuraly and right wing Jakub Voracek on Injured Reserve, General Manager and Alternate Governor Jarmo Kekalainen announced today. Voracek was placed on Injured Reserve retroactive to November 4, while Kuraly’s designation is retroactive to November 5. The Blue Jackets have added defensemen Gavin BayreutherMarcus Bjork and David Jiricek to the roster on emergency recall from the Cleveland Monsters, the club’s American Hockey League affiliate. In addition, defenseman Zach Werenski suffered a separated shoulder and torn labrum in Thursday’s 5-2 win over Philadelphia and is expected to miss the rest of the regular season.
Blankenburg, 24, is expected to miss six to eight weeks with a fractured ankle and high ankle sprain suffered on Thursday. He has collected two goals and one assist for three points with four penalty minutes in seven games with the Blue Jackets this season. The 5-9, 177-pound native of Washington, Michigan has totaled 3-3-6 and six PIM in 14 contests with the Blue Jackets since making his NHL debut at the end of the 2021-22 season.
Kuraly, 29, suffered an upper body injury on November 5 vs. Colorado and is considered day-to-day. He has recorded 2-2-4 with two PIM in 12 games with the Blue Jackets this season. The 6-2, 213-pound center has totaled 16-18-34 and 63 PIM in 89 contests with Columbus since signing as a free agent on July 28, 2021. Born in Niagara Falls, New York, he has registered 40-62. -102 and 197 PIM in 359 career games with the Blue Jackets and Boston Bruins since making his NHL debut in 2016-17.
Voracek, 33, is out indefinitely with an upper body injury suffered on November 4 at Colorado. The Kladno, Czechia native has collected 1-5-6 in 11 outings with Columbus in 2022-23. He has totaled 223-583-806 and 525 PIM in 1,058 career NHL games with the Blue Jackets and Philadelphia Flyers since being selected by Columbus in the first round, seventh overall, at the 2007 NHL Draft. The 6-2, 216-pound winger has posted 46-156-202 and 140 PIM in 331 career games over two stints with Columbus.
Bayreuther, 28, finished with one hit and two blocked shots on 15:09 of ice time in his season debut vs. Boston on October 28. The 6-1, 196-pound blueliner has posted 3-11-14 and 39 PIM in 72 career games with the Blue Jackets and Dallas Stars since making his NHL debut in 2018-19. He has collected 1-8-9 and 29 PIM in 53 appearances with Columbus since being signed as a free agent on Oct. 9, 2020. The Canaan, New Hampshire native has added 25-85-110 and 120 PIM in 221 career AHL games since making his pro debut in 2016-17 and is 0-4-4 and two PIM in four outings with Cleveland. 2022-23.
Bjork, 24, who was signed to a one-year entry level contract with the Blue Jackets on May 24, 2022, leads Monsters blueliners in goals and points (tied) with 2-3-5 and four PIM in 11 contests this season. He notched 1-1-2 in his North American pro debut on October 14 vs. Syracuse. A native of Umea, Sweden, the 6-4, 211-pound defenseman registered 17-47-64 and 98 PIM in 204 career games with Malmo, Orebro and Brynas IF in the Swedish Hockey League from 2018-22, including 3-12. -15 in 52 appearances in 2021-22.
Jiricek has recorded four shots, five hits and four blocked shots in two games with the Blue Jackets this season. He became the second youngest defenseman to make his NHL debut in franchise history (Rostislav Klesla; 18-years, 200-days on Oct. 7, 2000 vs. Chicago) when he suited up against Boston on October 28 at 18-years, 334 -days. The 6-4, 199-pound native of Klatovy, Czechia has added 0-5-5 with two PIM in six games with the Monsters this season. He was selected by the Blue Jackets in the first round, sixth overall, at the 2022 NHL Draft.
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