Mar 28, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets center Boone Jenner (38) warms up before the game against the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

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Columbus Blue Jackets Activate Boone Jenner & Kirill Marchenko Off IR

Columbus gets a boost as captain Boone Jenner and forward Kirill Marchenko return from injury ahead of their next game.

The Columbus Blue Jackets are getting a big boost after the 4 Nations break. Captain Boone Jenner and top goal scorer Kirill Marchenko have been activated from injured reserve and are set to play against the Chicago Blackhawks tomorrow. The team announced the news, bringing much-needed depth back to their lineup. However, in a corresponding move, winger Kevin Labanc was placed on IR after shoulder surgery on Tuesday. He will miss the rest of the season.

For Jenner, this will mark his season debut. The 31-year-old veteran suffered a serious shoulder injury during a training camp practice, forcing him to undergo surgery and miss over four and a half months. It was a tough break for the Blue Jackets’ leader, who was coming off his first-ever All-Star appearance. Despite injuries slowing him down in recent years, Jenner has been a workhorse for Columbus, averaging over 20 minutes of ice time per game for the past three seasons while consistently hitting the 20-goal mark.

Blue Jackets Activate Boone Jenner, Kirill Marchenko Off IRhttps://t.co/dL3gnhTANX
— Pro Hockey Rumors (@prohockeyrumors) February 21, 2025

Unfortunately, injuries have been a common theme in Jenner’s career. He hasn’t played 70 games in a season since before the pandemic. However, when healthy, he remains a reliable contributor. Since the 2021-22 season, he has been producing at a pace of around 31 goals and 55 points per 82 games. His -51 rating over that stretch might not look great, but his strong possession metrics show his overall impact on the ice. While he may be overmatched as a top-line center, he is a valuable middle-six forward with a well-rounded game.

Jenner has been a leader for the Blue Jackets for years, wearing a letter since the 2015-16 season before officially taking over as captain in 2021-22, succeeding Nick Foligno. His return is a major win for Columbus as they look to turn things around in the second half of the season.

Image Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

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Anamika Shrivastava

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