The Columbus Blue Jackets got more bad injury news on Wednesday when the team announced that rookie Alexandre Texier has been placed on Injured Reserve and will remain out indefinitely after suffering a lumbar stress fracture on Tuesday night vs. Florida. The club has recalled center Justin Scott from AHL Cleveland.
The Blue Jackets, 7-0-4 in their past 11 games, have been rash with injury news. Texier becomes the 11th (!) player that is currently out of the lineup, joining Josh Anderson, Cam Atkinson, Emil Bemstrom, Oliver Bjorkstrand, Brandon Dubinsky, Sonny Milano, Ryan Murray, Markus Nutivaara, Andrew Peeke, and Joonas Korpisalo.
Texier, the club's second-round pick in 2017, has been inconsistent for much of this year. His 6-7-13 in 36 games is tied for 9th in points on the team with Alexander Wennberg. Still, as a 20-year old rookie, his development has been impressive and ahead of schedule, particularly when considering that John Tortorella had been playing him at center for stretches of time.
Make that two clutch goals for Alexandre Texier (@atexier99). pic.twitter.com/vkEOsrbSnl
— NHL (@NHL) December 14, 2019
Analytically speaking, the Frenchman has been solid across the board. He's been a "plus" player (over 50%) in many statistical categories (all stats 5v5 and courtesy of NaturalStatTrick), including shot share (50.19%), goals for (54.84%), expected goals for (52.21%), and high-danger chances for (51.89%).
With the injury, the already-shorthanded Blue Jackets will look to extend their point streak to 12 games on Thursday night against the Boston Bruins. A point would extend their current NHL-best streak and would tie them for third in all-time franchise history.
