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Columbus Blue Jackets News
Aston-Reese (upper-body) is expected to play on Tuesday vs. Philadelphia.

Aston-Reese has impressed in his first season with the Blue Jackets, recording 11 points (4G / 7A), 32 blocks, and 94 hits in 42 games. The 30-year-old Aston-Reese spent most of the 2023-24 season in the AHL but has solidified himself a spot with the Blue Jackets. He signed a one-year, $775,000 contract extension with the club on Monday.

Zach Aston-Reese
Tarasov will start vs. Philadelphia on Tuesday.

Tarasov has returned from a conditioning stint with the Cleveland Monsters (AHL) and will tend the twine for the Blue Jackets on Tuesday against the Philadelphia Flyers. The 25-year-old Tarasov played reasonably in a two-game stint in the AHL (1-1-0), posting a 2.96 GAA and .908 SV%. He has a 4.23 GAA and .857 SV% in 10 appearances with the Blue Jackets this season (3-6-1). The Blue Jackets enter Tuesday's contest as slight -103 home underdogs against a Flyers club that defeated the Florida Panthers 4-3 last night.

Daniil Tarasov
Columbus has signed Zach Aston-Reese to a one-year, $775,000 contract extension.

Aston-Reese has impressed in his first season with the Blue Jackets, recording 11 points (4G / 7A), 32 blocks, and 94 hits in 42 games. The 30-year-old Aston-Reese spent most of the 2023-24 season in the AHL but has solidified himself a spot with the Blue Jackets.

Zach Aston-Reese
Monahan has a sprained wrist and is expected to miss at least the next 7-10 days.

It's unclear when Monahan suffered his wrist injury in Tuesday's 4-3 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins, but he did not appear in the third period, finishing the game with only 12:26 time-on-ice. Thankfully for Monahan and the Blue Jackets, he will not require surgery and should not be out for a significant amount of time. Monahan, in his age-30 season, was producing at a point-per-game pace for only the second time in his career, with 41 points (14G / 27A) in 41 games.

Sean Monahan
Tarasov has been assigned to Cleveland (AHL) on a conditioning stint.

Tarasov has only played one game in the last month so he will spend some time in the AHL to get up to speed. In addition, Tarasov has struggled mightily in limited NHL action this season, posting a 4.23 GAA and .857 SV% in 10 games (3-6-1). Before this season, Tarasov was far more stable between the pipes, posting a 3.39 GAA and .905 SV% in 45 appearances (12-24-4). Columbus has recalled Jet Greaves in a corresponding move.

Daniil Tarasov
Greaves has been recalled from Cleveland (AHL).

Daniil Tarasov has only played on game in the last month has been assigned to Cleveland (AHL) for a conditioning stint, swapping places with Greaves. The 23-year-old Greaves has spent most of the 2024-25 campaign in the AHL but has seen some NHL action as well, posting a 3.48 GAA and .890 SV% in four outings (1-1-2).

Jet Greaves
Severson will draw back into Columbus' lineup vs. Seattle on Thursday.

Jack Johnson (illness) will not play on Thursday against the Seattle Kraken, allowing Severson to seamlessly re-enter the lineup. The 30-year-old Severson is averaging 21:30 time-on-ice, recording 17 points (6G / 11A), 70 blocks, and 23 hits in 38 games this season.

Damon Severson
Merzlikins will start vs. Seattle on Thursday.

The Blue Jackets are riding a two-game winning streak and will roll with Merzlikins between the pipes for a fifth straight outing. Merzlikins allowed three goals on 23 shots (.870 SV%) in his most recent contest but was strong enough for a 4-3 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 30-year-old Merzlikins has a 3.17 GAA and .887 SV% in 27 games this season (14-10-3). He has not finished a season with a winning record since the 2021-22 campaign. The Blue Jackets enter Thursday's contest as +109 home underdogs against a Seattle Kraken squad amid a three-game losing skid (0-2-1).

Elvis Merzlikins
Del Bel Belluz is expected to make his season debut vs. Seattle on Thursday.

With Sean Monahan (wrist) sidelined, the Blue Jackets have recalled Del Bel Belluz from the Cleveland Monsters (AHL). The 21-year-old Del Bel Belluz made his NHL debut last season, scoring one goal in one game. He leads the AHL with 37 points (17G / 20A) in 34 games this season.

Luca Del Bel Belluz
Monahan (wrist) has been placed on IR.

It's unclear when Monahan suffered his wrist injury in Tuesday's 4-3 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins, but he did not appear in the third period, finishing the game with only 12:26 time-on-ice. The team is waiting for results from a bone scan to have a more concrete timeline for his return. Monahan, in his age-30 season, was producing at a point-per-game pace for only the second time in his career, with 41 points (14G / 27A) in 41 games.

Sean Monahan