The Columbus Blue Jackets finally got some good news on the injury front this morning, activating Alexander Wennberg. The 25-year old forward has missed the last dozen games with an upper-body injury.
Though Wennberg still hasn’t been able to recapture the performance that led him to a 59-point season in 2016-17, just the return of an NHL-level body will be a welcome one for the Blue Jackets. The team has been decimated by injury all season, and getting arguably their best defensive center back on the ice should help in their last ditch effort to claim a playoff spot.
With five goals and 20 points in 52 games it is another forgettable offensive season, but Wennberg can make good on his $4.9MM cap hit if the Blue Jackets turn things around. The team is 1-4-5 in their last ten and are in danger of slipping out of the Metropolitan Division race altogether, as the New York Rangers push hard.
Wennberg’s activation leaves the Blue Jackets’ injured reserve list with seven names: Cam Atkinson, Brandon Dubinsky, Seth Jones, Ryan Murray, Josh Anderson, Alexandre Texier and Dean Kukan.
Bjorkstrand, too