Markus Nutivaara News

Nutivaara was on the ice for Wednesday's practice but was placed on IR later in the day. With Nutivaara on IR, Matt Kiersted is expected to draw into the lineup for the Panthers season opener.

Nutivaara has missed the last 12 games with an upper-body injury but will play tonight in Columbus. Nutivaara will replace Kevin Connauton in the lineup and re-enters with three assists in seven games this season.

Nutivaara missed the first two games of the season due to COVID-19 protocol but will travel on the Panthers' upcoming trip to Columbus and Detroit. He skated on the "fourth pair" in Monday's practice, suggesting that his Panthers debut may not come until the second game of the trip, Thursday vs. his former team.

Nutivaara has two years left at $2.7M AAV and should immediately slide into the Panthers' top-4. Nutivaara will likely replace Josh Brown, who was traded to Ottawa Keith Yandle's partner. He was in-and-out of the lineup in 2020, playing just 37games. Over the last three seasons, he's averaged seven goals and 18 assists (25 points) per 82 games, so there is some offence there.

Nutivaara was a healthy scratch for the first two games of the series but will replace Dean Kukan in the lineup for Game 3. During the regular-season, Nutivaara had nine points (3G / 6A) while averaging 1.3 shots and 0.9 blocked shots in 37 games.

Nutivaara will replace Ryan Murray (undisclosed) in the lineup in Edmonton. Nutivaara, who has played big minutes at times this season, may play on the top-pair with Zach Werenski tonight.

Nutivaara has missed the last two games and has been moved to IR to open up a roster spot so the Blue Jackets could recall Eric Robinson from Cleveland (AHL). Nutivaara is eligible to return whenever he is healthy but this move suggests he'll miss at least one more game.

Nutivaara played just 5:20 TOI before leaving Tuesday's game vs. the Golden Knights with an upper-body injury. Nutivaara did not travel with the team which means he'll miss at least three games, putting Columbus down two regular defensemen. Scott Harrington is expected to draw-in and replaces Nutivaara on Thursday and Adam Clendening was recalled from AHL to serve as the No.7 defenseman.

Nutivaara missed the last two games with a lower-body injury but will play Wednesday vs. the Oilers. He has two goals while playing 16:13 ATOI in his first eight games this season but should see a bump in ice-time as he replaces Ryan Murray on the second-pair.

Nutivaara will come out of the lineup against the Hurricanes with Scott Harrington drawing back in to take his place. Nutivaara, who has two goals on 14 shots in eight games this season, is day-to-day.

Nutivaara had two shots and two PIMS while playing 13:23 TOI in the season opener but served as a healthy scratch on Saturday. Tonight he will replace Dean Kukan on the Blue Jackets’ third-pair.

Nutivaara was hurt in Game 2 in Tampa Bay and will miss his third straight game with an upper-body injury. Adam Clendening will remain in the Blue Jackets lineup while Nutivaara and Ryan Murray are out.

Nutivaara absorbed a big hit from Nikita Kucherov towards the end of Game 2 (Kucherov was suspended one-game for the hit) and it will cost Nutivaara at least one game as well. Nutivaara was on the ice for warmups but was a late scratch, which suggests that he won't be out long term. Adam Clendening will replace him on the blueline.