Forwards Cam Atkinson and Ryan Johansen and defensemen John Moore and Tim Erixon were among 20 players assigned to the Springfield Falcons of the American Hockey League on Friday by the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Johanson, the fourth pick of the 2010 Entry Draft, had 21 points in 67 games as an NHL rookie last season.
Atkinson, in his first pro season, had 44 points in 51 games for Springfield last season, and added 14 points in 27 games with the Blue Jackets.
Moore, the 21st pick of the 2009 draft, had seven points and a minus-23 rating in 67 games last season, his second in the NHL. He also played five games for Springfield last season.
Erixon, acquired from the New York Rangers in the Rick Nash deal this summer, had two assists and a minus-2 rating in 18 NHL games, and 33 points in 52 AHL games with the Connecticut Whale.
Also sent to the AHL were forwards Jonathan Audy-Marchessault, Matt Calvert, Michael Chaput, Sean Collins, Oliver Gabriel, Jake Hansen, Tomas Kubalik and Dalton Smith; defensemen Anton Blomqvist, Cody Goloubef, Austin Madaisky, Dalton Prout, Theo Ruth, David Savard and Will Weber; and goaltender Allen York.