Blue Jackets to be without veteran defenseman following shoulder surgery

Blue Jackets defenseman Erik Gudbranson underwent successful surgery Monday to address the shoulder injury he suffered  against the Panthers on Oct. 15, the team announced Tuesday. He was already placed on injured reserve. There’s no timeline for his return to the ice.

Unfortunately for Columbus, it be without another veteran leadership fixture for most of the season. Captain Boone Jenner also underwent shoulder surgery, which could cost him the entire campaign, general manager Don Waddell said at the time.

While frequently on IR earlier in his career, the 32-year-old Gudbranson has largely managed to stay healthy since inking a four-year, $16M deal with the Jackets in free agency in 2022. The stay-at-home defender has been severely overtaxed in largely top-four minutes, though, posting a -38 rating and a poor 43.4 CF% at even strength in 151 appearances as a Jacket while averaging north of 20 minutes per game.

Through three games this season, Gudbranson had no points, an even rating, four hits and three giveaways while also taking a minor penalty. While a relative non-factor on the ice thus far, he’s an invaluable part of Columbus’ leadership team and was the third-oldest player on the active roster behind newcomers Jack Johnson and James van Riemsdyk.

The right-shot blue-liner’s long-term absence likely means that 2022 No. 6 overall pick David Jiricek will see more minutes than he has to begin the season. The 20-year-old has sat in the press box for most of the campaign thus far and only just made his season debut over the weekend against the Wild, paired with Johnson and recording an assist and a +1 rating in 11:23 of tice time.