NHL Injury Update: Columbus Blue Jackets’ Brendan Smith sidelined after knee surgery

Brendan Smith is caught in the middle of a difficult situation with the Columbus Blue Jackets. The injury of the seasoned blueliner further complicates the already hard-pressed team. Defensive reshuffles are taking place as the contending teams in the Eastern Conference are having a tougher time finding their way.

The pressure on Smith's case escalated as soon as he got injured and had to be evaluated right away, leading to the first roster changes that eventually included him being put on the injured list. After two weeks, the Blue Jackets seemed ready to reflect on the situation, but they still had to clarify both the injury's extent and how long the defenseman would miss the ice.

How will Brendan Smith’s knee injury affect Columbus Blue Jackets’ defense?

The Blue Jackets announced that Smith had a knee operation to fix a lesion in his meniscus, which is the same injury he sustained on December 29 during the game against the Ottawa Senators when the Blue Jackets won 4-1. Smith came on the injured reserve list on January 2nd, and the operation was successfully done on January 6th. According to Don Waddell, Blue Jackets' President of Hockey Operations and GM, Smith is predicted to be out for 3–4 months, although the team is confident that he will be back in full shape.
At age 36, Smith signed a one-year contract with the Columbus team on November 24, and he has been playing just 15 games this season. With only two assists and 11 penalty minutes in his average ice time of 11:05, he was mainly a depth defenseman who provided stability and experience.

A first-round pick of the Detroit Red Wings at the 2007 NHL Draft, Smith has spent 741 NHL games with 6 different teams, scoring 146 points along with considerable playoff experience. His current absence forces the Blue Jackets to put more reliance on young defenders as the team still has a road schedule ahead.

The Blue Jackets' chances of losing incredibly experienced players during a difficult period increased with the prediction that Smith would take 3-4 months off. The healing timetable has now dictated the team's defensive strategy for the rest of the season in Columbus.

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