The Blue Jackets are excited to have Dmitri Voronkov back in the lineup against the Jets on Friday after recovering from an upper-body injury. With plenty of cap space and an open roster spot, they didn’t need to make any other moves for his return. The 24-year-old’s second NHL season was delayed due to an injury during a preseason game against the Penguins, but luckily he avoided surgery and is ready to play again after practicing last week.
His comeback is great news for the team, which has won two games in a row and holds a wild-card spot with a 5-3-1 record. Their offense is strong, scoring 3.89 goals per game, ranking them among the top ten teams. Voronkov joining them should boost their performance even more. Last season, he made waves as a middle-six player with 34 points (18 G, 16 A) in 75 games after arriving from Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League.
Coach Dean Evason mentioned that Kevin Labanc will sit out this game due to Voronkov’s return. Labanc had been performing well lately with points in four of his last five games and five assists overall this season but will face his third healthy scratch now.
Voronkov’s Impact and Future:
Fans might feel excited about what Voronkov brings back to the ice! As Columbus controlled over half of shot attempts and expected goals when he played even strength last year, his presence could be key for upcoming matches.
Voronkov’s contract situation adds another layer of intrigue; he’s nearing restricted free agency at the end of this entry-level deal that includes a $92.5K signing bonus plus an $832.5K base salary for this season—totaling a $925K cap hit—and he’ll be eligible for arbitration soon.
What do you think about all these changes?
