Gambrell joins Columbus on emergency recall, stepping in after Marchenko's broken jaw. Could this be his NHL comeback opportunity?
Dylan Gambrell is back with the Cleveland Monsters, according to a team announcement. He didn’t suit up for last night’s Columbus Blue Jackets loss to the Sabres. However, Columbus has now called him up on an emergency basis following the news that Kirill Marchenko suffered a broken jaw.
Gambrell hasn’t played in the NHL since the 2022-23 season, when he had 10 points, 35 penalty minutes, and a minus-four rating in 60 games with the Ottawa Senators. Between 2019 and 2023, he was a regular NHL player, splitting time between the San Jose Sharks and Ottawa, scoring 30 points in 162 games.
After spending last season in the AHL with the Toronto Marlies, where he posted 36 points in 66 games, Gambrell signed a two-way deal with the Blue Jackets this summer. So far, it’s been a solid move—he’s currently seventh in scoring for the Cleveland Monsters, with 20 points in 31 games. Two of the players ahead of him on that list, Denton Mateychuk and Luca Del Bel Belluz, are already on Columbus’ roster.
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For now, Gambrell is expected to act as the Blue Jackets’ extra forward for their next three games before the upcoming 4-Nations break. If he does get into the lineup, he could replace one of Mikael Pyyhtia, Kevin Labanc, or Zach Aston-Reese—all of whom have been struggling offensively, going scoreless in their last 10 games.
Under emergency recall rules, Gambrell can stay with Columbus for up to 10 games or 30 days. After that, the team would need to issue a formal recall to keep him in the NHL. Columbus also has other call-up options, including Trey Fix-Wolansky, Rocco Grimaldi, and Owen Sillinger, all of whom have better-scoring numbers in the AHL.
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