Over their last seven games, the Blue Jackets are 3-4-0 and on the heels of snapping the Rangers' 10-game winning streak on Sunday. Over that stretch, Boone Jenner has posted 5-3--8 with a +6 rating while winning 54.3% of his faceoffs.
Boone Jenner scores his team-leading fifth goal of the campaign. Zach Werenski and Damon Severson get the assists. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/KvYrKTpcmh
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) November 3, 2023
However, he's also second on the team in TOI/game in that span, playing 22:19 a game. That's 2:35 higher than his career average and 2:08 higher than his average since the start of the 2021-22 season.
Jenner, 30, has arguably been the team's best player this season, so it makes sense that he's playing big minutes. But over his career, he's missed 72 games with back injuries including 26 games since 2021-22, according to nhlinjuryviz.blogspot.com.
With a history of back injuries, does it make sense to be playing him this much during a season where the playoffs are out of reach?
If they aren't going to trade him, as interim GM John Davidson told Jeff Marek on The Jeff Marek Show on Sportsnet 590 The Fan, why are they playing him so much, especially when they could give those minutes to younger players?
Will Jenner's high usage continue down the stretch or will the Blue Jackets dial back his minutes?
