Voronkov will be out indefinitely with an upper-body injury after it was announced Friday that Columbus had placed him on injured reserve. The 24-year-old winger will have to delay his sophomore season debut with this latest news after putting up 18 goals, 34 points and 52 PIMs as a rookie in 75 games played in 2023-24.
Jenner lost an edge and slammed into the boards at practice on Friday. Jenner left practice with a trainer in obvious discomfort but the Blue Jackets did not provide any details on his status after the session.
Gudbranson has missed the last two preseason games with a lower-body injury but skated on Friday. Gudbranson is in the mix for playing time on the Blue Jackets' blueline but is questionable to be available for the season opener next Thursday.
Head coach Dean Evason did not have an update on Voronkov post-game, so for now consider him day-to-day until the Blue Jackets release more information in the coming days. Columbus opened their season next Thursday in Minnesota.
Weeks after signing fellow 2021 1st-round pick (5th overall) Kent Johnson, Columbus has also agreed to signed Cole Sillinger to a two-year, $4.5 million contract extension ($2,250,000 AAV). The 21-year-old was drafted 12th overall by the Blue Jackets in 2021 and has faced his share of up-and downs since joining the NHL as an 18-year-old in 2021-22. In 77 games in 2023-24 he had 13 goals, 32 points, 46 PIMs and 157 SOG while averaging 16:07 TOI/GP.
Marchenko built on a successful first season in Columbus by scoring 23 goals with 19 assists (42 points) in 78 games in 2023-24. The Blue Jackets were not busy in the offseason, so Marchenko will be a prominent part of their top-6 again in 2024-25. He saw a small bump in ice time down the stretch last season, and that will need to remain if he's going to be a 30-plus goal scorer this season.
Johnson's up-and-down tenure in Columbus will continue after the 21-year-old former top prospect signed a three-year, $5.4 million contract ($1,800,000 AAV). The ex-Michigan superstar was Columbus' 2021 1st round pick (5th overall) and took a noticable step backwards in 2023-24 only picking up six goals and 16 points in 42 games after amassing 40 points (16G/24A) in 79 games played the season before.
Greaves spent most of the 2024 season in the AHL, going 30-12-4 with a. 2.93 GAA and .910 SV%. He also impressed during a nine-game stint with the Blue Jackets, where he was 3-6-0 with a 3.49 GAA and .908 SV%. Greaves should open the 2024-25 season in the AHL.
Christiansen spent most of the 2024 season in the AHL, but did appear in 12 games with the Blue Jackets, tallying two assists. During his time in Cleveland (AHL), the 24-year-old blueliner had 13 goals and 33 assists (46 points) in 62 games. He'll likely start 2024-25 in Cleveland.
Zamula became a full-time NHLer in 2023-24, posting five goals and 16 assists (21 points) in 66 games. Zamula found himself on the Flyers top power-play unit at times but he'll likely be behind Cam York and Jamie Drysdale for that duty in 2024-25.
Minnesota continued their depth signings on Tuesday by bringing in Cleveland's (AHL) captain last season Brendan Gaunce to a two-year, two-way contract. The 30-year-old has appeared in 177 career NHL games since 2015-16 and has 13 goals and 28 points during that span. In 2023-24 he spent 24 games with Columbus (4 Pts) and the remainder of the season with Cleveland (AHL) where he had 19 goals and 39 points in 46 games played.
Cleveland (AHL) kept some of its depth on Monday as Columbus re-signed Owen Sillenger to a one-year, two-way contract. The 26-year-old son of Mike Sillinger has yet to make his NHL debut in any of his three AHL seasons but had 11 goals and 40 points in 69 games played with Cleveland in 2023-24.
After two seasons in New Jersey, Brendan Smith will be joining Dallas on a one-year, $1.0 million contract into the 2024-25 season. The 35-year-old defenseman is entering his 14th NHL season after posting his highest point totals (15) since 2015-16.
Vegas built on their overall depth on Monday as they signed 29-year-old Zach Aston-Reese to a one-year, two-way contract. The travelling forward will join his fifth team in eight NHL seasons after only appearing in three games for Detroit in 2023-24.
Heinen had to wait until a few weeks into the season to sign with Boston off a PTO in 2023-24 and has earned an early contract heading in 2024-25 after signing a two-year deal worth $4.5 million ($2.25M AAV) with Vancouver. The 28-year-old was a natural fit in Boston's lineup last season, with 17 goals and 36 points in 74 games played.
Columbus made their big splash on Monday by signing 29-year-old Sean Monahan to a five-year deal worth $27.5 million ($5.5M AAV). The 11-year-old veteran is joining his fourth NHL team in Columbus after putting up his highest point production (59 Pts) since 2018-19 with both Montreal and Winnipeg in 2023-24.
Lundstrom had five goals and 11 points in 46 games played in 2023-24 and has earned himself a one-year, $1.5 million contract extension with Anaheim. the 24-year-old was the Ducks' 2018 1st-round pick (23rd overall) and had 31 goals and 69 points in 258 games played across six seasons with Anaheim.
Heinen has not played since Game 5 vs. the Maple Leafs and remains day-to-day. Despite not being available for Game 3, Heinen did participate in Friday's morning skate, which suggests that he's not far from returning to the Bruins' lineup.
Marchment has been out since Game 2 of Round 1 with an undisclosed injury, but he will replace Radek Faksa in the lineup on Thursday. Marchment enjoyed the best season of his career in 2023-24, scoring 22 goals with 31 assists (53 points) in 81 games--he had one goal in the first two games of Round 1.
