Jack Roslovic started this season as one of the Blue Jackets' biggest question marks , a possible trade target who had struggled with inconsistency.
Now he's one of their biggest losses after fracturing an ankle in a 4-3 shootout loss to the New York Rangers on Sunday. Roslovic, 26, was placed on injured reserve Monday and rookie defenseman David Jiricek was recalled from the AHL's Cleveland Monsters. Roslovic is expected to miss 4-6 weeks.
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It's a challenging blow for the Blue Jackets ' group of forwards.
Roslovic had two goals and six assists in 14 games. His eight points are tied with Kirill Marchenko and Zach Werenski for second-highest on the team. After sitting one game early as a healthy scratch, Roslovic helped the Blue Jackets get through a stretch of nine games without Patrik Laine , who was out with a concussion.
Roslovic's speed, skating and high-end skill helped him earn his way into a top-six role before Laine returned this past weekend . Roslovic moved to the third line Saturday to play with center Cole Sillinger in a 5-4 loss to the Detroit Red Wings before facing the Rangers in the same role Sunday.
Struggling star Johnny Gaudreau joined them in New York and there were signs of instant chemistry despite Roslovic's injury happening on a blocked shot in the first period. Roslovic played through the end of regulation, but wasn't used in 3-on-3 overtime or the shootout.
Now he's out for an extended time.
Recalling Jiricek to replace Roslovic was an interesting decision by Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen . The rookie's return from a short AHL stint gives the Blue Jackets eight defensemen again, which is likely two extras on the blue line unless coach Pascal Vincent dresses 11 forwards and seven defensemen Tuesday against the Pittsburgh Penguins .
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More likely would be two defensemen sitting out and either Emil Bemstrom or Mathieu Olivier drawing back into the lineup. Jiricek's return is also notable because it leaves skilled forward Kent Johnson , the fifth overall pick of the 2021 NHL draft , in the AHL with the Monsters.
Johnson made his NHL debut with a nine-game stint in 2022 and then played all last season plus the first eight games this season in the NHL, recording a career stat line of 17-29-46 in 96 games. He has 2-3-5 in four games with Cleveland.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Blue Jackets lose Jack Roslovic 4-6 weeks with ankle fracture
