Blue Jackets' Erik Gudbranson: Set for six-week absence
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Gubdranson suffered a separated shoulder that will sideline him for six weeks, the team announced Monday.
Gudbranson's recovery timeline means he will be out for the remainder of the 2022-23 campaign. As such, the 31-year-old blueliner will finish the year having registered one goal and 12 assists in 70 games while averaging 21:18 of ice time. Despite logging career-high minutes this season, it didn't translate into points -- he missed the 15-point mark for the 11th time in his 12-year career.
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Blue Jackets' Erik Gudbranson: Could be facing extended absence
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Gudbranson (upper body) will not travel to Montreal on Saturday and could be dealing with a "longer-term" injury, Brian Hedger of The Columbus Dispatch reports.
Based on the wording from head coach Brad Larsen, Gudbranson could be out for the entire three-game road trip. The 31-year-old blueliner can be considered out indefinitely until more information is available. Columbus will need to promote a replacement from AHL Cleveland.
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Blue Jackets' Erik Gudbranson: Exits Friday's game
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Gudbranson (upper body) will not return to Friday's game against the Islanders, Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reports.
Gudbranson logged 16:21 of ice time with one shot before leaving Friday's contest. The veteran blueliner has 13 points in 70 games this season. An update on his status could be available before Saturday's game in Montreal.
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Blue Jackets' Erik Gudbranson: Makes impact Friday
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Gudbranson picked up an assist and added six blocked shots, four shots on net, two hits and a plus-1 rating in Friday's 4-2 loss to the Kraken.
The 31-year-old has been a blocked shot machine lately, recording multiple blocks in nine of the last 11 games and topping out at seven in a win over the Jets on Feb. 16. He's up to a career-high 125 blocked shots this season. Gudbranson was considered overpaid when he signed with Columbus this offseason on a four-year, $16 million deal, but coming out of the trade deadline, the stay-at-home defender is the only veteran voice left on a very young Blue Jackets blue line, and he should see big minutes the rest of the way.
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Blue Jackets' Erik Gudbranson: Nabs assist in overtime
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Gudbranson logged an assist, five blocked shots and two hits in Wednesday's 3-2 overtime win over the Oilers.
Gudbranson has picked up helpers in consecutive contests to begin this road trip after going 17 games without a point. The 31-year-old defenseman isn't known for his offense, instead providing a physical playing style on the second or third pairing. He's at 10 points, 62 shots on net, 86 hits, 93 blocked shots, 36 PIM and a minus-19 rating through 47 appearances.
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Blue Jackets' Erik Gudbranson: Earns helper Monday
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Gudbranson logged an assist and two blocked shots in Monday's 4-3 overtime loss to the Flames.
Johnny Gaudreau wasn't the only former Flame to make a return to the Saddledome on Monday. Gudbranson had a career year with the Flames last year, then turned that into a four-year contract with the Blue Jackets in the summer. His assist snapped a 17-game point drought. Despite Columbus' poor play as a team, Gudbranson is on a similar scoring rate this season. He has nine points with a minus-20 rating, 88 blocked shots, 84 hits, 61 shots on net and 36 PIM through 46 outings.
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Blue Jackets' Erik Gudbranson: Point drought continues
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Gudbranson recorded two shots, three hits, a blocked shot and two PIM in Saturday's shootout win over the Hurricanes.
The veteran blueliner hasn't picked up a point in nine straight games and has just one goal and eight points in 37 games on the season, but Gudbranson wasn't brought to Columbus for his offense. Over those last nine games, he's piled up 13 PIM, 17 hits and 21 blocked shots, and his minus-4 rating isn't even too bad considering the Blue Jackets won only two of those contests.
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Blue Jackets' Erik Gudbranson: Gets first goal with new team
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Gudbranson scored a goal on four shots, blocked four shots and added two PIM in Friday's 4-1 win over the Jets.
Gudbranson's first tally as a Blue Jacket came at 10:42 of the first period, and it held up as the game-winner. The 30-year-old defenseman is more renowned for his physical play than his offense, as his career high in points was the 17 he posted in 78 outings last season. He's up to six points, 29 shots on net, 41 hits, 35 blocked, 17 PIM and a minus-5 rating through 21 contests this season. With the Blue Jackets' defense missing a number of key contributors, he should continue to see top-four minutes.
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Blue Jackets' Erik Gudbranson: In Monday's lineup
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Gudbranson (undisclosed) will play Monday against Vegas, Jeff Svoboda of the Blue Jackets' official site reports.
Gudbranson was considered a game-time decision but he'll be fine to dress in his usual top-four role. The big-bodied defenseman is averaging 19:26 of ice time with five assists through 19 games.
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Blue Jackets' Erik Gudbranson: Game-time call
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Gudbranson (undisclosed) is expected to be a game-time decision Monday against Vegas, Blue Jackets team reporter Jeff Svoboda reports.
Gudbranson didn't take part in the morning skate. Columbus brought up defenseman Tim Berni from the minors Monday and have Billy Sweezey as a potential replacement as well.
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Blue Jackets' Erik Gudbranson: Registers two assists Thursday
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Gudbranson registered two assists in a 6-4 win against Montreal on Thursday.
Gudbranson had been held off the scoresheet in his previous seven games. He has five assists in 15 contests this season. With Columbus missing defensemen Jake Bean (shoulder), Zach Werenski (shoulder), Adam Boqvist (foot) and Nick Blankenburg (ankle), Gudbranson has been asked to play a huge role. He logged 27:06 of ice time in a 5-4 overtime loss to Philadelphia on Tuesday and 25:55 on Thursday.
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Blue Jackets' Erik Gudbranson: Gets big minutes in return
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Gudbranson (upper body) logged 27:06 of ice time in Columbus' 5-4 overtime win against Philadelphia on Tuesday.
Gudbranson missed Saturday's 4-3 overtime loss to the Islanders because of the injury. Part of the reason Gudbranson was leaned on so heavily Tuesday was because Jake Bean had to exit the game in the second period because of an upper-body injury. Gudbranson might continue to play a significant role if Bean misses games, but Gudbranson isn't likely to make big offensive contributions regardless. He has four assists in 14 games in 2022-23.
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Blue Jackets' Erik Gudbranson: Slated to play vs. Flyers
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Gudbranson (upper body) is good to return to the lineup Tuesday versus Philadelphia, per Aaron Portzline of The Athletic.
Gudbranson missed Saturday's 4-3 overtime loss to the Islanders because of the injury. He has three assists in 13 games this season. He'll likely serve on the third pairing with Jake Christiansen on Tuesday.
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Blue Jackets' Erik Gudbranson: Won't play Saturday
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Gudbranson (upper body) will not play Saturday against the Islanders, according to Bailey Johnson of The Columbus Dispatch.
Gudbranson was injured in Thursday's 5-2 victory over Philadelphia, and coach Brad Larsen said that while Gudbranson was day-to-day, he would not play Saturday. The Blue Jackets are really hurting on the blue line, as Zach Werenski (shoulder) is gone for the season, and Nick Blankenburg (ankle) is out 6-8 weeks after getting injured Thursday. Columbus recalled rookies Marcus Bjork and Jake Christiansen, as well as veteran Gavin Bayreuther from AHL Cleveland to play Saturday.
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Blue Jackets' Erik Gudbranson: Leaves Thursday's contest
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Gudbranson (upper body) won't return to Thursday's game versus the Flyers, Blue Jackets team reporter Jeff Svoboda reports.
Gudbranson was injured in the second period after crashing awkwardly into the boards. With Zach Werenski (upper body) also leaving the contest, the Blue Jackets will finish Thursday's game with four defensemen. Gudbranson's status should be updated prior to Saturday's road game versus the Islanders.
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Blue Jackets' Erik Gudbranson: Won't miss time to begin year
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Gudbranson (lower body) is in the lineup for Wednesday's season opener versus the Hurricanes, Blue Jackets team reporter Jeff Svoboda reports.
Gudbranson dealt with a lower-body injury late in the preseason, but it won't cost him regular-season games. The 30-year-old defenseman begins his Blue Jackets career in a third-pairing role alongside Jake Bean. Gudbranson will add a physical presence, but a repeat of his 17-point campaign from a year ago is not likely.
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Blue Jackets' Erik Gudbranson: Won't play Saturday
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Gudbranson (lower body) will not play Saturday against the Capitals, Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reports.
Coach Brad Larsen said that the injury is a minor one and that Gudbranson will be ready to go Wednesday against the Hurricanes. He picked up 17 points through 78 games with Calgary last season.
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Blue Jackets' Erik Gudbranson: Sitting out Thursday
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Gudbranson (lower body) won't play in Thursday's preseason game versus the Blues.
Gudbranson's absence is being labeled precautionary, which suggests it won't linger into the regular season. The 30-year-old defenseman cashed in big with a four-year, $16 million contract this summer after putting up 17 points and 145 hits in 78 games for the Flames last season.
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Blue Jackets' Erik Gudbranson: Signs four-year deal with Columbus
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Gudbranson signed a four-year, $16 million contract with the Blue Jackets on Wednesday.
Gudbranson appeared in 78 games with the Flames last season, picking up 17 points, 145 hits and 92 blocked shots while averaging 18:08 of ice time per contest. The 30-year-old defender should produce similarly while potentially taking on a slightly larger role with Columbus in 2022-23.
