Patrik Laine injury: What happened to Columbus Blue Jackets winger?

The Columbus Blue Jackets find themselves facing a setback as they announced that Patrik Laine has been placed on day-to-day injured reserve due to an upper-body injury. The unfortunate news follows a recent game against the Calgary Flames, where Laine was the target of a heavy hit by Rasmus Andersson that forced him to exit the game prematurely.

Columbus Blue Jackets place Patrik Laine on Day-to-Day Injured Reserve

The incident occurred three days ago, leaving fans and the team concerned about the impact of Laine's absence. The Finnish forward, who joined the Columbus Blue Jackets in a high-profile trade, has been a key asset to the team, and his offensive skills will undoubtedly be missed during his time on the injured reserve.

So far for the Columbus Blue Jackets this season, Laine has registered two points in four games with a goal and an assist. It seems as though Patrik Laine will be out for an extended amount of time for the Blue Jackets as he recuperates from the Rasmus Andersson hit.

In response to Laine's absence, the Columbus Blue Jackets have called up Dmitri Voronkov from the Cleveland Monsters, their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate. Voronkov, a 23-year-old Russian forward, has been making his mark in the AHL this season, tallying one assist in four games. He made his AHL debut with the Monsters on October 14 and quickly made an impact with an assist in the following game against Hershey.

Voronkov's size and physicality are notable, as he stands at an imposing 6-5 and weighs 240 pounds. His experience in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) with AK Bars Kazan from 2018-23, where he accumulated 37 goals, 37 assists, and 157 penalty minutes in 182 games, speaks of his potential as a strong addition to the Blue Jackets' roster.

The Blue Jackets drafted Voronkov in the fourth round, 114th overall, at the 2019 NHL Draft, and his call-up demonstrates the team's confidence in his abilities. While he may have big skates to fill in the absence of Laine, the young forward has shown promise in his short AHL career, and fans will be eager to see how he adapts to the NHL level.

The injury to Patrik Laine is undoubtedly a setback for the Blue Jackets, but it also provides an opportunity for Dmitri Voronkov to prove himself on the grand stage of the National Hockey League. As the team moves forward without one of their star players, the hope is that Voronkov can step up and contribute to their success.