The Columbus Blue Jackets should get some much-needed help on their blueline after the team announced they have activated defenseman Ryan Murray from injured reserve. Murray has missed the past 34 games due to a lower-body injury he sustained on Dec. 14.
Murray has appeared in just 24 games with the Blue Jackets as a top-four option. The 26-year-old has two goals and seven points this season after putting up a career-high 29 points last season. Murray has dealt with injuries his entire career, having only played in an full season once in his career, back in 2015-16. He also missed three weeks earlier this season when he broke his hand.
With several defensemen still out, including Seth Jones and Dean Kukan, Murray should immediately slide back into the team’s top-four in hopes of helping the team reach the playoffs. However, the team’s biggest hope was to get Murray back before the trade deadline as he might have been a useful trade chip. The former No. 2 overall pick in 2012 is a solid shutdown defender, but still has one more year remaining on his contract at $4.6MM.