Blue Jackets forward Patrik Laine is expected to be sidelined for six weeks after suffering a broken clavicle in Thursday's 6-5 win at Toronto , the team announced Friday.
Laine, 25, has six goals and three assists for nine points with six penalty minutes and 41 shots on goal in 18 games this season. He has collected points in five of his past six games, including a goal on Thursday against the Maple Leafs .
It's the seventh separate injury hurdle for Laine since the Blue Jackets acquired him and Jack Roslovic from the Winnipeg Jets in a January 2021 trade for Pierre-Luc Dubois .
Two years ago, he strained an oblique muscle and then his lower back. Last season, Laine injured an elbow , ankle and triceps muscle . This season, he missed nine games after being concussed on an illegal hit by Calgary Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson in a Blue Jackets victory at Nationwide Arena.
Now he's dealing with this issue, which occurred after Laine was tripped by Maple Leafs defenseman William Lagesson at 6:46 of the second period. After tumbling awkwardly into the boards, Laine left the ice holding his left shoulder and didn't return.
The trip didn't look intentional, but Lagesson's right leg swept Laine's left leg out from under him in a motion that looked like a slew foot. The Jackets rallied to stand up for their teammate, led by Cole Sillinger , but that couldn't undo whatever damage was done to Laine.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Blue Jackets' Patrik Laine out 6 weeks with broken clavicle
