The Captain. Is. Back.
The Columbus Blue Jackets officially activated Boone Jenner from injured reserve on Friday, finalizing the path for the captain to make his season debut Saturday night against the Chicago Blackhawks.
Jenner was injured on the last day of training camp and required shoulder surgery.
Since the Blue Jackets returned to practice Wednesday, Jenner has been practicing at left wing opposite of Kent Johnson and centered by Cole Sillinger. There was no change to that at Friday's practice, a strong indication that head coach Dean Evason will line Jenner up at left wing Saturday night.
#CBJ lines this Friday morning:
— Jeff Svoboda (@JacketsInsider) February 21, 2025
Voronkov-Fantilli-Marchenko
Jenner-Sillinger-Johnson
ZAR-Danforth-Olivier
JVR-Kuraly-LaBate
Mateychuk-Provorov
Christiansen-Severson
Johnson-Fabbro
Harris
For the last several seasons, Jenner has been playing a center role out of necessity. But with the strong play of Sean Monahan and the emergence of Adam Fantilli as Columbus' top two centers, it allows the Blue Jackets to move Jenner back to his primary role on the wing.
Even with Monahan out right now and expected to return sometime in March, the Blue Jackets still appear determined to get Jenner as his natural wing position.
Jenner, 31, has scored at least 22 goals in each of the last three season. His return to the lineup gives Columbus much-needed scoring depth without having to make a trade, and General Manager Don Waddell has said on several occasions that he looks at the return of Jenner like a deadline acquisition without having to give up any assets.
Last season, Jenner finished with 22 goals and 13 assists for 35 points in 58 games. He played, as he has over his career, valuable minutes on both the power play and penalty kill in addition to his even-strength minutes. His 20:06 of average ice time last year led all Columbus forwards.
Expect him to be in the ice in all situations again this season.
As crucial as it is to get back the on-ice production of someone like Jenner, the Blue Jackets are also adding someone who is synonymous with Columbus hockey: Jenner is the all-time leader in games played with Columbus (715), he's third in franchise history in goals (192), third in points (364), and just one away from Cam Atkison for second in power-play goals in franchise history.
Getting their locker room leader back is happening at the perfect time for the Blue Jackets, who sit just one game out of a potential wild card sport in the cramped Eastern Conference playoff race.
In a related move, the Blue Jackets also activated forward Kirill Marchenko from injured reason. He went down with a broken jaw Feb. 2nd, missing the team's final three games before the 4 Nations Face-Off break.
Marchenko is expected to resume his role at the top-line right winger opposite of Dmitri Voronkov and centered by Fantilli.
