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Columbus Blue Jackets
Kent Johnson will be out the rest of the season for the Blue Jackets because of a torn labrum in his left shoulder.
The forward, who is expected to have surgery later this week, sustained the injury during a 4-1 loss at the New York Rangers on Feb. 28. Johnson, the No. 5 pick in the 2021 NHL Draft, had 16 points (six goals, 10 assists) in 42 games this season after he had 40 points (16 goals, 24 assists) in 79 games as a rookie in 2022-23.
Goalie Elvis Merzlikins is day to day with an upper-body injury after making 26 saves in a 5-2 win at the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday.
Merzlikins, who requested a trade earlier this season after he was scratched and relegated to the No. 3 goalie, could be dealt before the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline on Friday at 3 p.m. ET. At the time he requested the trade, Merzlikins said, "There has to be a new scenario for me for my career, I believe."
The 29-year-old is 12-13-7 with a 3.21 goals-against average, .904 save percentage and one shutout in 35 games (34 starts).
Jet Greaves was recalled on emergency basis from Cleveland of the American Hockey League on Sunday. The 22-year-old is 1-2-0 with a 2.70 GAA and .936 save percentage in three NHL games. He played in a 5-2 win against the St. Louis Blues at Nationwide Arena on Dec. 8, when he set a Blue Jackets record for saves by a goalie in his first NHL win (41).
Vegas Golden Knights
Jack Eichel could return for the Golden Knights against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday (7 p.m. ET; SCRIPPS, BSOH).
The center has missed 19 games with a knee injury he sustained in a 2-1 overtime win against the Boston Bruins on Jan. 11. He took part in his first full contact practice Friday.
"We'll target Monday in Columbus, and if it's not Monday, then we're back home Thursday (against the Vancouver Canucks)," Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy said. "So, he's going in the right direction."
Eichel rejoined the team Tuesday in a noncontact jersey and was back in a regular sweater at the morning skate in Boston prior to a 5-4 loss Thursday.
He is third on the Golden Knights with 44 points (19 goals, 25 assists) in 42 games this season. -- Heather Engel
Vancouver Canucks
Tyler Myers is week to week for the Canucks because of a lower-body injury.
Myers was injured in a 5-1 loss at the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday and wasn't at practice Saturday. The defenseman is not with the team during a three-game road trip.
Myers has 23 points (four goals, 19 assists) and is plus-12 in 62 games this season. He is averaging 18:57 of ice time, including 2:11 on the penalty kill.
Defenseman Mark Friedman, who has been a healthy scratch the past eight games and 36 of the past 38, took Myers spot in the lineup at practice, but the Canucks could also soon get defenseman Carson Soucy back from a fractured knuckle.
Soucy, who has been out since getting hit by a shot during a 6-4 win against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Jan. 20, was a full participant in practice Saturday and said he expects to play on the road trip.
"I'd like to say I'm ready whenever but there is that pace of skating with the guys and obviously they've been in a groove," Soucy said. "Just trying to get up to practice pace and then obviously game pace, so use these next couple of days and hopefully be back really soon."
Soucy has six points (two goals, four assists) and is plus-6 in 21 games while averaging 17:25 of ice time. He also missed almost eight weeks after taking a shot off his left foot in a game Nov. 12. -- Kevin Woodley
Los Angeles Kings
Adrian Kempe is week to week for the Kings with an undisclosed injury.
The forward was injured late in the third period of a 4-2 loss at the Edmonton Oilers on Monday when he fell awkwardly on his left arm after tangling with Oilers defenseman Cody Ceci.
Kempe went straight to the locker room and returned to Los Angeles on Tuesday for further examination.
"There's really not much of an update outside of it's week to week," Kings coach Jim Hiller said Saturday. "When we get more (information) … we'll let you know."
Kempe, who has missed the past three games, is tied for second on the Kings in points (51) and goals (19), and third in assists (32). He led them in goals in each of the previous two seasons. -- Dan Greenspan
