Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

The Columbus Blue Jackets activated defenseman Zach Werenski off injured reserve on Thursday.

Werenski has missed the past 10 games since sustaining an ankle injury during the second period of Columbus' 4-3 overtime loss to the New Jersey Devils on Dec. 27.

Werenski, 26, leads the team in assists (24) and average time on ice (24:04) in 34 games this season. He also has one goal and 10 penalty minutes.

He has recorded 270 points (80 goals, 190 assists) and 103 penalty minutes in 450 career games since being selected by the Blue Jackets with the eighth overall pick of the 2015 NHL Draft.

Also on Thursday, Columbus assigned defenseman David Jiricek to the Cleveland Monsters of the American Hockey League.

Jiricek, 20, has totaled nine points (one goal, eight assists) in 36 games this season with the Blue Jackets. He was selected by Columbus with the sixth overall pick in 2022.

More must-reads:

TODAY'S BEST
Watch: Sovereignty edges out Journalism in 151st Kentucky Derby
James Harden adds another chapter to ugly Game 7 history in Clippers' blowout loss
Stars' Mikko Rantanen gets revenge on Avalanche in Game 7
Flames sign former first-round pick to seven-year extension
Packers CB Jaire Alexander's preference revealed amid trade buzz
Cubs on the verge of losing significant trade acquisition
Red Sox slugger likely to miss rest of 2025 season due to knee surgery
Carson Hocevar earns first career NASCAR Cup Series pole for Wurth 400 at Texas
Oilers get good news and bad news on Mattias Ekholm
Rams HC Sean McVay makes big statement about Matthew Stafford's future
Blackhawks young star won't play for Canada in World Championship
Longtime Spurs HC Gregg Popovich ends coaching career
Rockets stun Warriors, force deciding Game 7 with road win
Another Connor Hellebuyck meltdown pushes Jets-Blues to Game 7
Yankees All-Star infielder shocked by his own injury news
LeBron James suffered concerning injury in Lakers' season-ending loss
Nuggets coach accuses referees of ‘absolutely crazy’ handling of Nikola Jokic
Tony Stewart extends an official offer to Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Insider shares if there's any 'concern' regarding 49ers, Brock Purdy contract extension talks
Grizzlies make decision on head-coaching job