Blue Jackets’ Kevin Labanc, Owen Sillinger to miss rest of 2024-25 season; Jenner, Marchenko off IR
The Columbus Blue Jackets announced Friday that forwards Kevin Labanc and Owen Sillinger will miss the remainder of the 2024-25 campaign due to injury.
For Labanc, the 29-year-old native of Brooklyn, N.Y., is sidelined after undergoing shoulder surgery. On the season, Labanc has made 34 appearances with the Blue Jackets in which he has registered two goals and 10 assists for 12 points alongside 12 penalty minutes and a plus-one rating. The veteran forward is in his first season with Columbus after spending the past eight campaigns as part of the San Jose Sharks. Per PuckPedia, Labanc is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent in July.
Meanwhile, for Sillinger, the 27-year-old journeyman forward has made one appearance with the Blue Jackets this season, a mid-January recall following 44 showings with the AHL affiliated Cleveland Monsters in which he posted 29 points counting 11 goals and 18 assists. An undrafted free agent, the product of Regina, Sask., originally signed with the Blue Jackets last July. Sillinger will miss the balance of the 2024-25 season due to a knee injury.
The Blue Jackets also announced Friday that captain Boone Jenner and right winger Kirill Marchenko have been activated off the injured reserve. Sidelined for the first 56 games of the 2024-25 season after suffering a shoulder injury in early October, Jenner is expected to make his season debut Saturday against the Chicago Blackhawks. Originally chosen 37th overall by Columbus in the 2011 NHL Draft, Jenner wrapped up last season with 35 points in 58 games.
Also up front, Marchenko will make his return to the lineup after undergoing jaw surgery. On the season, the 24-year-old Russian-born forward headlines the Blue Jackets with 21 goals and sits second in team scoring with 55 points in 53 games. Through three seasons with the Blue Jackets, Marchenko has amassed 122 points in 190 career contests.
Entering Saturday’s showdown against the Blackhawks, the Blue Jackets sit 26-22-8 on the season, one point back of the Detroit Red Wings for the second wildcard seed in the Eastern Conference.