The Columbus Blue Jackets have been dealt two knockout blows on Boxing Day 2017.
Winger Cam Atkinson and center Alexander Wennberg will be lost from their lineup for an extended period of time due to injuries suffered in games last week.
Blue Jacket GM Jarmo Kekalainen made the new public today.
Wennberg suffered a back injury on December 21 at Pittsburgh, while Atkinson suffered a fractured foot on December 23 vs. Philadelphia.
Both players are expected to be sidelined 4 to 6 weeks.
Atkinson, who has led the Blue Jackets in scoring in each of the past two seasons, has scored 6 goals and 7 assists in 32 games this season. Atkinson is averaging 18:29 TOI this season.
Atkinson played in the 2017 All-Star Game. Atkinson scored 35 goals and 27 and was +13 in 82 games last season.
Wennberg, 23, has scored 4 goals and 12 assists in 30 games with the Blue Jackets this season. Wenneberg is averaging 18:23 TOI this season.
A native of Stockholm, Sweden, Wennberg has registered 29 goals and 106 assists in 247 career NHL games with the Blue Jackets.
The Blue Jackets return to action on Wednesday when they visit the Penguins.
John Tortarella's team can ill aford to have a prolonged losing skid as a reult of the Atkinson and Wenneberg long term injuries.
New Jersey leads the Metro with 47 points. With 46 points, the Jackets are currently tied for second place with the Washington Capitals in the crazy competitive Metro Divisison. The Rangers and Islanders have 42 points, Carolina and Pittsburgh have 38 points and Philadepha have 38 points.
The NHL roster freze will be lifted on December 28.
I expect that Kekalainen has already uppped his trade game. He now needs two top six forwards. Kekalainen's search for a top six forward just got kicked up a few notches. Prior to the blockbuster trade between, Nashville, Ottawa and Colorado, Kekalainen had been actively pursuing Matt Duchene for months.
Kekalainen would be wise to phone Jason Botterill in Buffalo to inquire about Evander Kane.
Since December 3, 2016, Kane has scored 43 goals and 33 assists in 105 games played. Kane has 15 goals and 18 assists in 36 games played this season. Kane has landed 152 shots on enemy goalies and is averaging 19:52 TOI.
With 35 even-strength goals the past season and a half, Kane is a bang on target for playoff contending teams like Columbus, Pittsburgh, Anaheim, San Jose, LA, St. Louis, Vegas, Chicago, Dallas, Minnesota, and Calgary.
A pending unrestricted free agent, Kane is a $5.25M AAV this season. The Blue Jackets have $5.9 million in available salary cap space. Kekalainen has the premium pieces of currency that Botterill is seeking in return for Kane like wingers Sonny Milano, Oliver Bjorkstrand and a first round draft choice.
Steep price. I know. Kane's trade value continues to increase with each and every game he plays this season. Recent injuries to star forwards around the NHL is driving Kane's value. San Jose lost Logan Couture to a concussion last week. Vancouver has lost Bo Horvat and Sven Baertschi. St. Louis is trying to make ends meet without Jaden Schwartz. Anaheim has been playing without Corey Perry and Ryan Kesler.
If Kekalainen is serious about adding a scoring winger, he better act on Kane the moment the rister freeze ends. Otherwise, he will get beaten to the punch by Pittsburgh's GM Jim Rutherford, San Jose's Doug Wilson, Vancouver's Jim Benning, St. Louis' Doug Armstrong or Anaheim's Bob Murray.
Botterill is conducting an auction for Kane. He needs to make the smart play for Kane. Not a salary dump for draft picks. Botterill is asking for and will receive three premium pieces in exchange for Kane.
Will Kekalainen go there like so many other NHL GMs?
"We just have to deal with it," Kekalainen said to his team’s website. "It's going to be a great test for our depth, and a great opportunity for some other guys to play more significant roles right now, and we'll just have to deal with it."
Kekalainen didn't rule out pursuing the trade market. However, he said he will look for solutions inside the family. Kekalainen doesn’t have another Cam Atkinson nor Alexander Wenneberg stashed in AHL Cleveland.
"Every team in this league has injuries, and they're not going to be trying to help you," he said. "It's not easy to find reinforcements from outside, when you have to give up something to get something. We're not going to go crazy, mortgaging our future for something that could take a month or six weeks to get through."
You may not have a choice though, Jarmo. A long losing skid could land you in the basement of the high-stress and anxiety of the Metro Division.