Blue Jackets Lose Trade Piece For Rest Of Season

A thorn was thrown in the side of the Columbus Blue Jackets' trade plans as it was announced that Gustav Nyquist would miss the rest of the season with a shoulder injury. Add his name to the long list of players that the team has had get injured this season.

What is unfortunate for the Blue Jackets with this situation is Nyquist was set to become a UFA after the season and was expected to be traded as a rental to a contender. Those plans have now been shut down and there is the potential for him to heal up and re-sign with the Blue Jackets before next season.

The Blue Jackets weren't going to get a ton for Nyquist at the deadline, but as a bottom-feeder looking for any assets, they could have gotten something useful. The Blue Jackets have their sights set on the 2023 NHL Entry Draft and losing Nyquist is a step towards remaining last place in the league.

Nyquist will finish the 2022-23 season with 10 goals and 22 points in 48 games. He has spent the last three seasons in Columbus, collecting 43 goals and 117 points in 200 games. He has been a regular member of their top-six and was a part of one playoff run in 2019-20 with the Blue Jackets. We will have to wait and see the severity of his injury and if he indeed does return to the Blue Jackets next season.