Blue Jackets Head Coach Provides Update On Injured Player

After practice today, Columbus Blue Jackets head coach Dean Evason provided an update on the injured Erik Gudbranson.

Evason met with the media and said that Gudbranson is on track to return sometime next week.

If the Blue Jackets are able to get him back next week, it will have a huge impact on the roster. Especially with the team struggling a bit as of late, having a veteran defenseman who can step in and settle things down will be very helpful.

Gudbranson, 33, has been out since undergoing shoulder surgery in late October. If there were a prediction for his return, it might be Monday, March 17, against the New Jersey Devils. While that game may not be as much about catching them for third in the division, it will be more about showing that this team can bounce back against opponents they've struggled against in big games.

Adding him to the blue line will feel very similar to a trade deadline acquisition, likely giving the team a morale boost, and he will play a big part in that.

Gudbranson is a leader on and off the ice, and having him return to the lineup at any point in the season is huge. But adding him back in the thick of a playoff race is nearly perfect for the Blue Jackets.