Columbus Blue Jackets News

Gudbranson was a healthy scratch on Thursday, but will get back into the lineup on Saturday. Gudbranson has 12 points (4G / 8A), a minus-3 rating and 54 PIMS in 69 games this season.

Ninchushkin, who has only appeared in four games with the Stars this season, is finally ready to get into game action after undergoing hip surgery back in November. He will play three games in Texas before returning to Dallas for the final five games of the regular season.

Nichushkin will head to Texas and if he is feeling healthy enough he is expected to play on Friday. He will play three games there before returning to the Stars.

Nichushkin, who hasn’t played since November 6th, will be traveling with the team, and is expected to return to the Stars lineup next week. He had no points in four games before getting injured.

Severson has been out with a fractured ankle since December 15th. Tonight he will return to the lineup vs. Nashville and the Devils will go with seven blue liners. He is expected to be paired with Jon Merrill.

Severson, 20, has been out since December 15th but is really close to a return. He said he wanted to play tomorrow, but he will be held out, so a Friday return seems like a real possibility. He has 12 points (4G / 8A) in 32 games this season.

Nichushkin, who had hip surgery on November 18th, visited with his doctor last weekend and was told it would still be 4-6 weeks before he can play in an NHL game. “He’s skating before and after practice,” GM Jim Nill said. “We’ll take it slower and just make sure he’s ready for each step.”

Nichushkin’s original timetable was four months, which would have had him returning in mid-to-late March. If he returns at the front end of the 3-6 week timetable, the Stars will have him back in the last week of February or first week of March.

Severson has been out since December 15th because of a hairline fracture in his ankle. He was only supposed to miss 4-5 weeks, but he is already six and a half weeks removed from the injury. It sounds like it will end up being about eight or nine weeks from the date of injury.

Copley served as Braden Holtby’s backup over the weekend while Justin Peters was on a conditioning stint with Hershey.

Copley, 22, has gone 6-3-1 with a 2.00 GAA and .921 SV% in 11 games with Hershey (AHL) this season. Justin Peters will go down to Hershey on a conditioning stint tomorrow and Copley is the most likely candidate to be recalled. He will likely backup Braden Holtby vs. Detroit on Saturday.

Gudbranson, who was back at practice earlier this week, will miss his third straight game with an upper-body injury. With Gudbranson out, Shane O’Brien will remain in the lineup.

Gudbranson will miss his second straight game with an upper-body injury. He was listed as doubtful so this should come as no surprise. He is day-to-day.

Gudbranson missed Panthers practice on Saturday and will likely miss his second straight game with an upper-body injury. Monitor his status during the morning skate, but don’t get your hopes up.

Gudbranson was not in the lineup on Friday against the Sabres because of an upper-body injury. Shane O’Brien was recalled and replaced Gudbranson on the Panthers blue line. Monitor his status leading up to Sunday’s game vs. the Capitals.

Severson was injured while blocking a shot on December 6th vs. Washington. He played five games on it before it swelled up on Wednesday. His fractured ankle will not require surgery, but you won’t see him back in the lineup until mid-to-late January. Expect Eric Gelinas to return as a full-timer on the blue line.

Nichushkin had surgery on his hip in mod-November and had been in New Jersey since. He was back at team facilities today and was reportedly in good spirits. His original timetable for a return was four months, which would see him return for the final 10-15 games of the season.

The Stars prospect has had a difficult time getting his NHL career started on the right track. He was hampered by a sore hip to start the year and now this surgery will keep him out until the middle of March which will have him return for the final 10-15 games of the season. For re-draft leagues he is safe to drop, while in deep keeper leagues he is worth stashing away in your IR.

Nichushkin just returned to the Stars lineup for two games, but will not play tonight and will stay off of the ice for two or three days to rest his nagging groin/hip injury. With Nichushkin out again, the Stars recalled Curtis McKenzie.

Nichushkin returned to the lineup on on Tuesday but is already questionable to play on Saturday. He had one shot and a minus-2 rating in two games since returning to the lineup.