The Columbus Blue Jackets made a pair of roster moves on Sunday, placing defenceman Zach Werenski on injured reserve while activating forward Mathieu Olivier in a corresponding move.
TRANSACTIONS: #CBJ have activated F Mathieu Olivier off Injured Reserve and placed D Zach Werenski (lower body injury; day-to-day) on IR retroactive to Dec. 20.https://t.co/aUlLxlcb9J
— CBJ Public Relations (@BlueJacketsPR) December 28, 2025
Werenski, 28, was placed on the IR retroactive to Dec. 20, and is considered day-to-day by the team with a lower-body injury. Given that the NHL rules require a minimum stay of seven days on the IR, Werenski will be eligible to return to action whenever the club deems him ready to do so.
Werenski logged 27:56 of ice time in the team’s 4-3 loss to the Anaheim Ducks on Dec. 20, but exited in the third period after blocking a shot with his right leg. He missed the following game against the Los Angeles Kings before the holiday break.
The 10th-year pro experienced a major breakout season in 2024-25, logging career highs in goals (23), assists (59) and points (82) en route to a second-place finish in Norris Trophy voting. In 35 games this season, Werenski has 14 goals and 40 points.
Olivier, 28, has missed the past 13 games while nursing an upper-body injury. In 23 games prior to going down with the injury, the seventh-year player had three goals and nine points. Like Weresnki, Olivier experienced a breakout campaign a year ago, as he tallied career highs with 18 goals and 32 points in 82 games.
The Blue Jackets return to action out of the holiday break with a game against the New York Islanders on Sunday evening. Their last game was a 3-1 victory over the Kings on Dec. 22. Columbus (15-15-6) ranks at the bottom of the Eastern Conference entering play on Sunday.
