Columbus Blue Jackets’ Jake Bean out for rest of season with upper-body injury

Per team reporter Jeff Svoboda, Bean was injured during the Blue Jackets game on Thursday night against the New York Islanders. The 25-year-old blocked a shot, and left late in the contest which saw Columbus fall, 4-2. The Blue Jackets also lost goaltender Daniil Tarasov earlier in the game due to injury.

It is the second time in as many seasons that Bean has had to be shut down prior to the conclusion of a season. In December of the 2022-23 campaign, the Calgary native underwent shoulder surgery and ended up missing the rest of the year.

Like the rest of Columbus, it has been an unideal season for Bean. The former Carolina Hurricane has played 72 games this season, being a healthy scratch a couple of times. Bean has scored four goals and nine assists.

Bean is set to be a restricted free agent, barring any contract extension by the Blue Jackets. He is in the final year of a three-year deal with an AAV of $2,333,333, with a projected qualifying offer of $2.8 million.

In 197 NHL games over five seasons, Bean has registered 13 goals and 43 assists, including a goal in 11 games with the Hurricanes during the 2021 playoffs.

Also when speaking to the media, Vincent revealed Merzlikins is not ready to return from injury, and with Tarasov now listed as day-to-day, Jet Greaves is the only goaltender on the active roster. Svoboda reported that Columbus would have to call up a goaltender, which means either Malcolm Subban or Nolan Lalonde could be on their way up from the Jackets’ American Hockey League affiliate, the Cleveland Monsters.

The Blue Jackets (25-39-12) are at the bottom of the Eastern Conference, but are 20 points ahead of the San Jose Sharks for the worst record in the NHL.