Boone Jenner will have surgery for a broken thumb Tuesday, and the Columbus Blue Jackets forward is expected to be out four weeks.
The Blue Jackets captain scored and played 21:32 in a 4-2 loss at the Boston Bruins on Saturday. Jenner leads Columbus with 11 goals in 30 games, and his 22 points are second to Johnny Gaudreau (33).
“We all know what Boone is and what he’s brought production-wise and minutes and everything, leadership,” Blue Jackets coach Brad Larsen said. “He’s our leader. He’s been leading it for the last few years here just with what he brings to the room, his work ethic, his practice habits and stuff in the gym, let alone his production.”
Jenner was injured during a 4-0 loss at the Florida Panthers on Dec. 13 and wore a splint Saturday.
“He’s a guy you want on your team every day, so to have your captain be a type of player like that, it’s just very contagious,” Gaudreau said. “And with such a young group we have in our locker room, he’s a great person that you can watch and learn from every day as these younger guys are coming in.”
Jenner was placed on injured reserve, and center Josh Dunne was recalled from Cleveland of the American Hockey League. The 24-year-old forward played 4:36 in a 2-1 loss to the Dallas Stars on Monday. The Blue Jackets (10-19-2) have lost four in a row.
The Blue Jackets are also without a forward Cole Sillinger, who is day to day because of an upper-body injury. Defensemen Zach Werenski (shoulder), Jake Bean (shoulder) and Justin Danforth (shoulder) each is out for the season, and forward Jakub Voracek likely won’t play again this season because of a concussion.
They also are missing defensemen Adam Boqvist (foot) and Nick Blankenburg (ankle), and goalie Joonas Korpisalo (lower body).
“I don’t know what to say anymore,” Larsen said. “We seem to have the same conversation almost every game, so it’s where we’re at. We’ve been dealing with this really since Game 1 and it’s coming in waves and you’re looking at four guys already out for the year compounded. with the other stuff.”
NHL.com independent correspondent Craig Merz contributed to this report
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