What Happened
Monahan was injured in the second period of Friday's game against Buffalo while Columbus was short-handed, after he blocked a shot from Sabres defenceman Rasmus Dahlin. He went to the bench in obvious discomfort and was later sent to the locker room. The Blue Jackets ruled him out for the remainder of the game with a lower-body injury. Before exiting, Monahan logged 11:06 of ice time and picked up an assist on Kent Johnson's first-period goal.
Key Details
- Injury occurred on a blocked Rasmus Dahlin shot during a Columbus penalty kill.
- Monahan was ruled out for the rest of the game with a lower-body injury.
- He finished with 11:06 of ice time and one assist on Kent Johnson's goal.
- Monahan entered Friday with one goal and four assists in 14 games.
- The 32-year-old is in his 14th NHL season; he had 36 points in 78 games in 2025-26.
What It Means
Columbus loses a veteran centre for at least the remainder of Friday's game, leaving the club to adjust its forward group mid-game against Buffalo. Monahan had five points through the first 14 games of the season, and last season he was a regular contributor with 36 points across 78 appearances. The severity of the lower-body injury is not yet known, so the length of any absence remains unclear.
What's Next
The Blue Jackets have not announced a timeline for Monahan's return. Further evaluation and a status update on his availability for upcoming games are expected.