In a blow to their forward depth, the Columbus Blue Jackets announced today that they have placed veteran center Sean Monahan on injured reserve due to an upper body injury. The 30-year-old playmaker suffered the ailment during the Jackets’ gutsy 4-3 shootout win in Pittsburgh on Tuesday night.
Monahan, who signed with Columbus as a free agent this past summer, has been a stabilizing presence up the middle for the young Blue Jackets squad. Through 41 games, he ranks second on the team in plus/minus at +17 while sitting third in goals (14), assists (27) and total points (41). His calm demeanor and leadership abilities will certainly be missed during this IR stint.
Fantilli Gets Top-Line Promotion
Looking to fill the void left by Monahan’s absence, head coach Dean Evason announced that rookie sensation Adam Fantilli will move up to center the Jackets’ top line starting with tonight’s tilt against the Seattle Kraken. The 18-year-old phenom has flashed immense potential in his debut campaign, notching 28 points through his first 40 NHL contests.
“Guys have watched how [Monahan] conducts himself, and hopefully they try to do the exact same thing,” Evason said of the impact his injured pivot has on the club. “He’s very calming influence player… He doesn’t get too high, too low, all those clichés. He just goes about his business. We expect our team to do that here tonight.”
– Blue Jackets head coach Dean Evason
Sillinger Called Up on Emergency Basis
To shore up their forward ranks, Columbus also announced that they have recalled rookie Owen Sillinger from the AHL’s Cleveland Monsters. The 27-year-old winger has impressed with the farm team this season, racking up 25 points in 34 games. He’ll slot into a bottom-six role while Monahan is on the mend.
Sillinger, the son of former NHL stalwart Mike Sillinger, signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Jackets this past offseason. The undrafted free agent has yet to make his NHL debut, but his strong play with Cleveland has earned him this emergency call-up opportunity. He’ll look to make an impact and prove he belongs at the game’s highest level.
Jackets Soldiers On Without Veteran Leader
There’s no question that losing Monahan for any stretch is a significant hit to the Blue Jackets’ lineup. The savvy two-way center has been one of their most consistent performers all season long. His steadying presence has been crucial in helping Columbus exceed expectations and remain in the thick of the playoff race.
- Ranks 2nd on CBJ in plus/minus (+17)
- 3rd on team in goals (14), assists (27) & points (41)
- Veteran of 805 career NHL games
Still, this is a resilient bunch that has handled adversity throughout the season. With leaders like Zach Werenski on the backend and budding stars such as Fantilli up front, the Blue Jackets have the depth and determination to weather this storm. Expect them to rally around each other and elevate their games in Monahan’s absence.
The road ahead certainly won’t be easy for Columbus. But if there’s one thing we’ve learned about this group, it’s that they will never back down from a challenge. With a crucial matchup against the Kraken on tap tonight, look for the Jackets to come out firing as they aim to prove they can succeed even without one of their heart-and-soul players in the lineup.
