Jacket head coach Dean Evason provides devastating injury update on forward Kent Johnson

Blue Jackets forward Kent Johnson’s recovery from injury is ‘not short term,’ according to head coach Dean Evason.

On Saturday, Evason provided an update on Johnson, stating that while there is no timeline for his return, the injury is not expected to heal quickly. The specific details of the injury remain unconfirmed.

Johnson sustained the injury early in the second period of Thursday’s game against the Buffalo Sabres. Although it’s unclear which play caused the injury, it was at this point that he left the game and did not return. Prior to his exit, he had made an assist on Yegor Chinakhov’s 1-0 goal, logging 6:25 of ice time, as the Blue Jackets went on to win 6-4.

This setback is unfortunate for Johnson and the Blue Jackets, as he started the season strong, recording 2 goals and 3 assists for 5 points in just 4 games. With a previous career high of 40 points set in 2022-23, Johnson’s current pace of 102 points would have significantly surpassed that record, although maintaining such a pace over the entire season is improbable.

Selected fifth overall by the Blue Jackets in the 2021 NHL Draft from the University of Michigan, he returned to school for the following season before making his NHL debut with Columbus at the end of the 2021-22 season. He is now in his fourth season with the team.

Johnson is currently in the first year of a three-year contract with a  $ 1.8 million cap hit, a deal he signed over the summer as a restricted free agent.

David Jiricek is anticipated to take Johnson’s place in the lineup for Saturday’s game against the Minnesota Wild. The Blue Jackets will utilize 11 forwards and 7 defensemen for the matchup, with Jiricek making his season debut.

#CBJ coach Dean Evason won’t provide a timeline on injured Kent Johnson, but would say this: “It’s not short term.”

— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) October 19, 2024

Columbus aims to build on their victory over the Sabres as they host the Wild on Saturday at 7 p.m. EST. The Blue Jackets currently sit sixth in the Metropolitan Division with a 2-2-0 record.