Columbus Blue Jackets center Brandon Dubinsky was placed on injured reserve Tuesday and is out indefinitely because of a lower-body injury.
Dubinsky was third on the Blue Jackets last season with 50 points, and his 34 assists were a career-best. Dubinsky also was tied for second on the team in scoring during the Stanley Cup Playoffs with six points in six games.
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The injury to Dubinsky means the Blue Jackets will be missing three of their top forwards for the season opener Thursday against the Buffalo Sabres. Also missing from the lineup will be Boone Jenner (hand) and Nathan Horton (back). In addition, top-line center Ryan Johansen, who signed a three-year contract Monday, is questionable for Thursday. Johansen has to take his physical and clear immigration, and Richards said he wants to assess Johansen's conditioning before committing to playing him.
The Columbus Dispatch reported defenseman Ryan Murray would not play Thursday because of a knee injury.
The Blue Jackets also announced they claimed forward Adam Cracknell on waivers from the Los Angeles Kings. The 29-year-old had two assists and 16 shots on goal in 19 games with the St. Louis Blues last season, and 25 points in 28 games with the Blues' American Hockey League team, the Chicago Wolves.
The Blue Jackets also assigned forward Jerry D'Amigo to Springfield of the AHL.
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