The Columbus Blue Jackets have announced two moves to the injury reserve list this morning.
Returning to the roster is defenseman Adam Boqvist, who has been missing since from the lineup since February 27. Boqvist left their last contest against the Penguins. Boqvist has 19 points in 40 games in his first season as Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman, and is also one of only 6 in franchise history to record 10 goals in a single season. The Swedish defenseman is a pending restricted free agent, joining Columbus with other first round draft picks in the Seth Jones swap this past summer.
Done in Columbus is backup goaltender Joonas Korpisalo, who is undergoing hip surgery and is done for the regular season. Full recovery is reportedly 6 months. Korpisalo has had a rough final season in his position, with coming in with less games and lack of reps. Korpi has also had to fill in for when Elvis was hurt, which is been quite a bit. In 22 games, Korpisalo is a 7-11-0 record with a 4.15 GAA and a 0.877 save percentage. His last start was against the Penguins on Tuesday night, in a 5-1 loss.
Korpisalo, 27, has had a 76-67-11 record with a 3.04 GAA and a 0.902 save percentage in 182 games played with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Korpi was a third round draft pick, 62nd overall, in the Ryan Murray 2012 NHL Entry Draft. The Finnish native is also a 2016 Calder Cup Champion with the Lake Erie Monsters. If this was indeed his farewell in the city of Columbus, I’m sure he isn’t liking it’s with a loss and a looming surgery. The guy is a positive one in the locker room, with his goalie partners, and with the coaching staff and management. Korpisalo has served under tandems with Sergei Bobrovsky, Elvis Merzlikins, and Anton Forsberg the most in his professional North American career.
Korpisalo was rumored to have had interest from the Edmonton Oilers, Colorado Avalanche, Florida Panthers, New Jersey Devils, and Vegas Golden Knights per sources around the league. We will see where he goes from here. Hoping for a full recovery, Joonas.
Hoping to see more Korpi soon…