Forward Gregory Hofmann has been suspended by the Columbus Blue Jackets, the club announced Monday afternoon.
"Gregory was given permission by the club to step away for personal reasons and informed us today that because of those reasons he has decided not to return," said General Manager and Alternate Governor Jarmo Kekalainen.
"We are disappointed, but we have no other recourse than to suspend him."
Hofmann had recently left the country to travel back to his native Switzerland.
The 29-year-old has two goals and five assists in 24 games with the Blue Jackets and was tied for the team lead in plus/minus at +6. Hofmann has not been in the Columbus lineup since their return to play December 30th after being put on pause by the league two weeks earlier. His last in-game action came in a December 14th loss to Vancouver.
Columbus acquired Hofmann in a February 2021 trade with the Carolina Hurricanes, and signed him to a one-year contract in June.
