Blue Jackets' Mathieu Olivier: Playing versus Caps
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Olivier (lower body) will be in the lineup against Washington on Thursday, Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reports.
Olivier has registered just one point in his last seven games while generating a mere six shots on net. The only upside for fantasy players during his recent run of play is that he dished out 26 hits over that stretch. While he does see time with the man advantage, Olivier's scoring slump makes him a risky fantasy option.
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Blue Jackets' Justin Danforth: Not playing Thursday
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Danforth (lower body) will not be in the lineup versus Washington on Thursday, per Aaron Portzline of The Athletic.
Danforth sat out practice Wednesday with the injury and it is debilitating enough that he will miss Thursday's contest. Danforth has three goals and five assists in 25 contests this season. He will be replaced by Mikael Pyyhtia, who has been a healthy scratch in six of the Blue Jackets' last seven games.
Marrelli agreed to terms on a three-year, entry-level contract with Columbus on Wednesday.
Marrelli is off to a strong start to the 2024-25 campaign with OHL Oshawa, racking up 14 goals and 26 helpers in 30 contests. Selected by the Jackets in the third round of the 2024 NHL Draft, the 19-year-old blueliner will likely make the jump to the professional ranks next season.
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Blue Jackets' Justin Danforth: Dealing with lower-body injury
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Danforth missed Wednesday's practice due to a lower-body injury, per Jeff Svoboda of the Blue Jackets' official site.
Danforth has three goals and eight points across 25 appearances in 2024-25. He might still be an option for Thursday's game against Washington, but that's not a certainty. Mathieu Olivier (lower body) is also questionable for the upcoming tilt, and if either of them can't play, then Mikael Pyyhtia will likely draw into the lineup.
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Blue Jackets' Mathieu Olivier: Misses practice Wednesday
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Olivier was absent from practice Wednesday due to a lower-body injury and is questionable heading into Thursday's clash with Washington, Jeff Svoboda of the Blue Jackets' official site reports.
According to head coach Dean Evason, the team is optimistic that Olivier and Justin Danforth (lower body) will both be available versus the Capitals but that it's not guaranteed. The 27-year-old Olivier has underwhelmed of late with just one point over his last seven appearances while also registering a mere six shots during that stretch. Mikael Pyyhtia figures to slot into the lineup if either Olivier or Danforth can't play Thursday.
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Blue Jackets' Jet Greaves: Set to face Washington
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Greaves is expected to start in Thursday's home tilt against the Capitals, per Aaron Portzline of The Athletic on Wednesday.
It will be Greaves' first NHL appearance of the 2024-25 campaign. He's up with the Blue Jackets despite Elvis Merzlikins or Daniil Tarasov both seemingly being healthy, per Mark Scheig of The Hockey Writers. However, Tarasov is having an extremely rough campaign with a 4.25 GAA and an .857 save percentage through nine outings, which has led to Merzlikins starting in 10 of Columbus' last 11 games. Perhaps Greaves is simply up because the Blue Jackets have soured on Tarasov, and if that's the case, then the game against Washington is an opportunity for the 23-year-old Greaves to make his pitch to remain with the team. The Capitals are a difficult assignment, though -- Washington is 19-6-2 and ranks first in goals per game with 4.04.
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Blue Jackets' Jet Greaves: Called up from minors
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Greaves was elevated from AHL Cleveland on Wednesday.
Greaves' promotion could be an indication that Elvis Merzlikins or Daniil Tarasov is dealing with an injury or illness ahead of Thursday's clash with the Capitals. In his nine appearances last year, the 23-year-old Greaves went 3-6-0 with a 3.49 GAA. He's been significantly better in the minors this year, going 8-4-2 with a 3.21 GAA and .902 save percentage. If there is an injury in the goalie tandem, Greaves could be pressed into service against Anaheim or Carolina on Saturday or Sunday, respectively.
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Blue Jackets' Yegor Chinakhov: On injured reserve
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Chinakhov was moved to injured reserve Wednesday.
Chinakhov hasn't been in the lineup since Nov. 27, so he's eligible to be activated whenever he's healthy. That said, Chinakhov hasn't resumed skating yet and isn't believed to be close to returning. He has seven goals and 14 points in 21 outings in 2024-25.
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Blue Jackets' Dante Fabbro: Slides helper in loss
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Fabbro notched an assist in Tuesday's 5-3 loss to the Flyers.
Fabbro set up Sean Monahan's third-period goal. The helper snapped a four-game dry spell for Fabbro, who has maintained a top-four role despite the downturn on offense. He's up to seven points this year, all of which have come over 14 games with the Blue Jackets after he had six scoreless outings with the Predators before being waived. He's added 26 shots on net, 34 blocked shots, 16 hits, 16 PIM and a plus-10 rating.
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Blue Jackets' Sean Monahan: Lights lamp Tuesday
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Monahan scored a goal on two shots in Tuesday's 5-3 loss to the Flyers.
Monahan snapped a four-game goal drought with his third-period tally, though it was too late to flip the result. The center had a burst of offense in mid-November, but he's been limited to four points over his last eight contests. There will be some ebbs and flows with a young team around him, but Monahan remains a surprisingly strong No. 1 center for Columbus. The 30-year-old is at nine goals, 15 helpers, 73 shots on net and a plus-12 rating over 28 appearances.
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Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski: Career season continues
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Werenski scored a goal Tuesday in a 5-3 loss to the Flyers.
Werenski has nine goals this season, which ties him with Cale Makar for the NHL lead among defensemen. His 29 points are third-best for defenders. Werenski's best season to date came last year when he put up 11 goals and 57 points in 70 games. He's on pace to obliterate those numbers.
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Blue Jackets' Elvis Merzlikins: Played sieve again
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Merzlikins made 19 saves in a 5-3 loss to the Flyers on Tuesday.
Elvis played sieve all night, but that's been part of his game for a long time. He's given up three-plus goals in nine of his last 15 starts (since Nov. 1), and four or more in eight of those nine. Merzlikins is a fantasy anchor. Roster and activate at your own risk.
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Blue Jackets' Kent Johnson: Taking next step in game
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Johnson had a goal and an assist in a 5-3 loss to the Flyers on Tuesday.
Johnson has four points (three goals, one assist) across his past two games. The fifth overall pick (2021) appears to be taking the next step in his game. He has nine goals, seven assists and 32 shots in just 14 outings this season, and he's on pace to establish new career marks in all offensive categories. Continue to watch Johnson's 28.1 shooting percentage, which has nowhere to go but down. Still, he's a talented young forward with lots of fantasy promise.
Jenner (shoulder) has resumed skating, Mark Scheig of The Hockey Writers reports Tuesday.
Jenner has yet to suit up this season after undergoing shoulder surgery in October. It was reported that Columbus' captain would miss 5-6 months, with general manager Don Waddell saying the club hopes Jenner will be able to return to game action March 1 against Detroit, per Aaron Portzline of The Athletic. The 31-year-old produced 22 goals and 35 points over 58 regular-season games in 2023-24.
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Blue Jackets' Yegor Chinakhov: Not ready to return
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Head coach Dean Evason said Tuesday that Chinakhov (upper body) is "progressing, for sure, but as far as I know he hasn't been on the ice yet. So he's not close to coming back yet," Jeff Svoboda of the Blue Jackets' official site reports.
Chinakov has missed the past six games due to the injury. The Russian winger was playing well before suffering the setback, as he scored in three of his last four appearances. Chinakhov will likely slot into a middle-six role once he's healthy.
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Blue Jackets' Cole Sillinger: Good to go
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Sillinger (lower body) will be in the lineup Tuesday against the Flyers, Aaron Portzline of The Athletic relays.
Sillinger departed Sunday's road game in Winnipeg after blocking a shot in the second period. The 21-year-old will slot in on the third line and No. 2 power-play unit. Sillinger has generated four goals and 18 points through 26 appearances.
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Blue Jackets' Elvis Merzlikins: In goal Tuesday
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Merzlikins will get the starting nod at home against the Flyers on Tuesday, Mark Scheig of The Hockey Writers reports.
Merzlikins will make his 10th appearance in the Jackets' last 11 contests, having posted a 6-2-1 record and an .887 save percentage along the way. While the 30-year-old backstop has been far from perfect as evidenced by his sub-.900 save percentage, he has still managed to secure a standings points in seven of his last nine outings. While it will likely be Merzlikins net versus the Caps on Thursday, a back-to-back against Anaheim and Carolina on Saturday and Sunday, respectively, should give Daniil Tarasov the chance to start.
