The Columbus Blue Jackets have loaned Alexandre Texier to KalPa of Finland's Liiga, the club announced on Tuesday.
The announcement comes a day after reports indicated that the Blue Jackets would also be loaning Emil Bemstrom and Veini Vehvilainen to different teams in Liiga, the top pro hockey league in Finland.
From the release:
Texier, who turns 21 on September 13, collected 6-7-13 with 10 penalty minutes and a +3 plus/minus rating in 36 games this season prior to suffering a back injury during the December 31 game vs. the Florida Panthers. The injury sidelined him for the final 30 games of the 2019-20 regular season. He returned to action during the NHL's Return to Play and collected 0-4-4 and two penalty minutes, while averaging 21:52 of ice time in 10 postseason contests.
The Blue Jackets' second round pick, 45th overall, at the 2017 NHL Draft, Texier has notched 7-7-14 with 10 penalty minutes and a +6 plus/minus rating in 38 career regular season NHL games. The St. Martin D'heres, France native spent two seasons with KalPa from 2017-19 before coming to North America late in the 2018-19 season. In 108 games, the 6-1, 192-pound forward notched 27-36-63 and 74 penalty minutes and led KalPa in assists and points in 2018-19 with 14-27-41 in 55 outings.
KalPa regains their leading scorer from the 2018-19 season, and they seem (rightfully) seem pleased by the transaction.
Bienvenue Kuopio @atexier99!
— KalPa (@KalPa_Hockey) September 8, 2020
Totta se on, @BlueJacketsNHL-hykkj Alexandre Texier liittyy keltapaitoihin marraskuun 2020 loppuun asti ulottuvalla lainasopimuksella!
: https://t.co/MOGPwjPcO2#KalPa #Liiga #Kuopio pic.twitter.com/8Ayeru5Jz1
Bemstrom, Texier, and Vehvilainen will rejoin the Blue Jackets prior to the start of the 2020-21 season.
