With the March 7 NHL Trade Deadline approaching, the Columbus Blue Jackets are getting healthy. Captain Boone Jenner, who tore a labrum in training camp, is expected to be in the lineup as the Blue Jackets host the Chicago Blackhawks. Kirill Marchenko, who shortly before the break was struck by an errant puck while sitting on the Blue Jackets bench, suffered a broken jaw.
The Blue Jackets trail the Detroit Red Wings by one point for a Wild-Card spot. The two teams play twice next week in what now are showdown games with a lot riding on the results. Thursday's game is in Detroit, while Saturday's matchup is part of the NHL Stadium Series which will take place at Ohio Stadium.
Those games now find the Blue Jackets in good shape to take one or both games with Jenner and Marchenko returning. Head coach Dean Evason did not speak directly about what amounts to back-to-back games against Detroit, only to say he is glad to be getting the two players back into the lineup.
For the Blue Jackets, they were widely viewed as a team that would improve this season and here they stand on the playoffs doorstep. The Red Wings were supposed to be one of the better teams in the Eastern Conference. A slow start saw Detroit make a coaching change; in the 20 games since Todd McLellan took over the Red Wings are 15-4-1 with 31 points as the organization has seized a Wild Card spot.
Jenner adds instant firepower to a Blue Jackets team that has no issues putting the puck in the back of the net. Marchenko also is a sniper. Both players add a well-rounded game and add some grit and snarl for Columbus. So while the trade deadline is still a couple of weeks away, this is as good as a trade by getting two players who mean so much back if you are Columbus.