Danforth has not played since December 10th due to a lower-body injury but will make his return on Monday. The 31-year-old Danforth is averaging a career-high 15:20 time-on-ice and has eight points (3G / 5A) in 25 games this season. Kevin Labanc will be a healthy scratch to accommodate Danforth's return.

Christiansen has been a staple on the Blue Jackets' blue line this season and has been rewarded with a two-year, $1.95 million contract extension. The 25-year-old defenseman is averaging 13:07 time-on-ice, recording seven points (1G / 6A), 41 hits, and 28 blocks in 45 games this season.

The red-hot Blue Jackets have won five straight and will turn to Merzlikins between the pipes on Thursday against the San Jose Sharks. Merzlikins was excellent in his previous outing, saving 29 of 31 shots (.935 SV%) in a 6-2 win over the Seattle Kraken. He has a 3.12 GAA and .889 SV% in 28 games this season (15-10-3). The Blue Jackets enter Thursday's contest as -163 home favorites against a Sharks team that snapped the Detroit Red Wings' seven-game winning streak with a 6-3 win on Tuesday.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Sillinger made his NHL debut on Thursday night, recording two penalty minutes, but will return to the Cleveland Monsters (AHL). The 27-year-old Sillinger has 25 points (8G / 17A) in 34 AHL games with Cleveland this season.

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 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).

Sillinger is averaging 17:30 time-on-ice, recording 22 points (6G / 16A) through 40 games this season. If he is not able to play on Thursday against the Seattle Kraken, recently recalled Owen Sillinger will like draw into the lineup as his replacement.

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.

Johnson has been a regular in the Blue Jackets lineup lately but will not play on Thursday against the Seattle Kraken due to an illness. The 37-year-old Johnson is averaging 12:56 time-on-ice, recording two points (0G / 2A) in 27 games this season.