How much have the Columbus Blue Jackets missed Nick Blankenburg?
It's hard to answer that question in terms of wins and losses. But it's probably not a stretch to say that the Blue Jackets certainly miss the spark Blankenburg provides when he's on the ice.
Since going down against the Rangers on Oct. 23 with an elbow injury, the club has dropped three straight, being outscored 17-4 in that nearly two-week span.
Making the trip to Finland for the 2022 NHL Global Series against the Colorado Avalanche, Blankenburg has been participating in the practices leading up to the weekend's game and it looks like he'll make his return on Friday.
How we line up in Tampere
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) November 4, 2022
Mill lhdemme otteluun Tampereella pic.twitter.com/i74hce4kfS
The club can certainly use his energy.
While the issues plaguing the club through the first 10 games of the season go beyond just what Blankenburg will provide for them upon his return, the team certainly resembled more of the play—with him in the lineup—that we were used to seeing from the team all last season.
A competitive team, regardless of opponent, that was able to stay in just about every game from start to finish and play an entertaining brand of hockey.
"He's a fun player to watch," Johnny Gaudreau said following the Blue Jackets' 5-3 win over the Nashville Predators on Oct. 20 in which Blankeburg scored the game-winning goal.
"Great to see another college kid come out of college and jump right in the NHL. He sees the ice so well, he's physical, he's smart in his (defensive) zone—he's a great little player. It's going to be fun playing with him."
You really can't place a ton of stock on Blankenburg's four games this season but the stock feels high on Blankenburg in his short career sample so far. This season, he has 1.52 xGA/60 and through 11 career NHL games, a 2.16 xGA/60 according to Natural Stat Trick.
Again, small sample size but it feels like he's able to make an impact every time he's on the ice. Blankenburg hasn't shied away from throwing the body around with six blocks and 10 hits.
While in Finland, Blankenburg has been keeping fans up-to-date on his thoughts and feelings about the experience abroad in a journal series for NHL.com with installments one, two, and three so far.
Nick Blankenburg is ready for the @BlueJacketsNHL off day in Finland as part of the Global Series. Here is his blog. https://t.co/nZZSxTjrk6
— NHL.com (@NHLdotcom) November 1, 2022
Blankenburg rejoining the Blue Jackets lineup can be one lift they can use as they look to shake a three-game losing streak. Maybe the days off and chance to rest—the Finland jet lag aside—will benefit when they take on the defending Stanley Cup Champion Avalanche on Friday and Saturday.
The Avalanche are 4-4-1 through their first nine games and are without captain Gabriel Landeskog for 12 weeks following knee surgery.
