Blue Jackets place Erik Gudbranson on injured reserve with upper-body injury

The Columbus Blue Jackets made a couple of roster moves. On Monday, they placed defenseman Erik Gudbranson on injured reserve with an upper-body injury. In response, the Blue Jackets recalled goaltender Jet Greaves from their American Hockey League affiliate, the Cleveland Monsters, on an emergency basis.

Gudbranson suffered the injury late in the second period of Columbus’ home opener against the Florida Panthers. The 32-year-old collided with teammate Sean Monahan in the neutral zone, falling to the ice awkwardly. Gudbranson would immediately skate off the ice and down the tunnel, visibly favoring his right arm.

Per the rules of IR and the injury retroactive to Tuesday, the Ottawa native will be ineligible to return to the lineup until the Blue Jackets’ matchup next Tuesday with the Detroit Red Wings.

It will be interesting to learn the extent of Gudbranson’s injury, as he was relatively healthy in the 2023-24 season, playing 78 games, scoring six goals and 20 assists for 26 points, all career highs. So far, in three games this season, he has yet to register a points, averaging 15:46 of ice time with a plus/minus of +2.

Gudbranson is in the third year of his four-year contract with a $4 million cap hit.

Greaves has spent his entire professional career with the Blue Jackets, though he has spent most of his career in the minors. The Cambridge, Ontario native has played just one game so far this season, giving up seven goals on 35 shots last Saturday against the Hershey Bears.

The 23-year-old played a career-high nine games with the Blue Jackets last season, posting a 3-6-0 record with a 3.49 goals-against average and .908 save percentage. He earned his first NHL win on Dec. 8, 2023 against the St. Louis Blues. In 119 AHL appearances, Greaves has a record of 61-41-11 with a 3.00 GAA, a .904 SV% and four shutouts.

The Blue Jackets are back in action on Thursday night, hosting the Buffalo Sabres.