The Blue Jackets are facing injury after injury after escaping a lot of its wrath in the first couple months of the season. This isn't like the 2014-15 season but the notable injuries are beginning pile up similarly.
Their top scorers are out and two of their best young defensemen are out. It is a less than ideal situation but there are ways to learn from the team and improve. There are solutions available via trade as they always are. It doesn't appear they're going to put a full body wrap on what they believe is merely a paper cut.
Cam Atkinson
Injury: Broken foot, out four to six weeks
Who can fill the role: Nick Foligno
Atkinson's injury may not seem like much at first glance due to his lack of points so far but to have him on the ice is a trojan horse that the team would like to have in its back pocket. Even when he isn't performing, he demands attention and will get it every time he is on the ice.
The player that could really step up in his absence is Foligno. Similar to Atkinson, Foligno has not had a good year and he is trying to find his game. Foligno is going to get an increase in ice time and offensive opportunities on the man advantage. Making inroads would be a big first step for the other American-born winger.
Alexander Wennberg
Injury: Back injury, out four to six weeks
Who can fill the role: Boone Jenner, Nick Foligno
The Blue Jackets don't have an astronomical amount of depth on the wings but compared to the center position, they have a Fort Knox amount of depth. Whoever is going to fill in the second line center role is going to have a big task ahead of them.
Jenner is a natural center and he didn't look terrible in his short stint playing there. Foligno plays the wing and has been playing at center with mixed results. If any position could/should be shored up with a trade, it would be the center position that is desperately thin. Add on a Dubinsky injury, it is close to dire times for the Blue Jackets.
Brandon Dubinsky
Injury: Broken orbital bone, six to eight weeks
Who can fill the role: Lukas Sedlak
Dubinsky wasn't lighting it up like multiple other injured players but nonetheless, he is still a presence that the team wants in the lineup. He is consistently used as a defensive stopper and makes a difference one way or another.
Sedlak filling that role is a big ask considering his prior play and ice time. He isn't in the same mold of a Dubinsky and really highlights the shortcomings of this injury-ravaged team. Players will be asked to play out of position and it will show many strengths and weaknesses.
Zach Werenski
Injury: "Body" injury, day-to-day
Who can fill the role: Markus Nutivaara
Nutivaara has already been filling Werenski's role admirably and showing why he should be a top-four defenseman on the team. Solid defensively and underrated offensively, Nutivaara isn't making people forget about the skilled Werenski but he is emulating portions of his game to a fault.
Werenski hasn't been given a timetable for his return as of yet. His services will be missed but the drop off wasn't as sharp as many anticipated.
Ryan Murray
Injury: Upper body, day-to-day
Who can fill the role: Scott Harrington, Gabriel Carlsson
It has been shown that Murray can play all throughout the lineup and has in the past. He has been on the first pair and succeeded, he has been on the bottom-pair and succeeded. It doesn't necessarily matter where you slot Murray which is a testament to his versatility.
Harrington and Carlsson have been filling in admirably but their still green and unable to bring the same patience as Murray. Carlsson especially looks lost at times but there is still time for that to change. Murray has been day-to-day since early December and no timetable has been given for his return. Harrington and Carlsson will get an opportunity to find their feet as Murray continues to stay on the shelf.
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