After winning Stanley Cup with the Avalanche last season, Johnson signed a one-year, $950K deal with the Blackhawks in August. Playing on one of the worst teams in the NHL, Johnson posted just four assists and a minus-25 rating across 58 games. He returns to the Avalanche, bring with him a veteran presence and Stanley Cup experience.
Gaudreau missed the Blue Jackets' previous two games with a lower-body injury but is expected to return to Columbus' lineup Thursday vs. Minnesota. The 29-year-old has 15 goals, 52 points, 144 SOG, 20 PIMs and a -16 plus/minus through 55 games played prior to the injury.
Gaudreau missed the last two games with a lower-body injury, but his return to practice on Wednesday suggests that he'll be back in the lineup vs. the Wild on Thursday. Gaudreau. Was starting to heat up before he got hurt, picking up 14 points (4G / 10A) in his previous 15 games.
Labanc has surprisingly been a healthy scratch for the Sharks' previous four games but will draw back into the lineup Tuesday as they take on the Washington Capitals. The 27-year-old right winger has 10 goals, 15 assists, 83 SOG, 22 PIMs and a -3 plus/minus through 45 games played.
Merzlikins stopped 26 of 29 shots (.897 SV%) to snap a three-game losing streak with a victory over the Toronto Maple Leaf's last start. The 28-year-old has a historically bad SV% this season, ranking bottom-five all-time with his .871 SV%, leading to his 6-14-0 record and 4.34 GAA. He will face the New Jersey Devils, who had a three-game winning streak snapped after a 3-2 shootout loss to Minnesota last game and are fourth in the NHL in shots per game (34.1).
Gambrell has a goal, 21 SOG, 27 PIMs and a -8 plus/minus through 32 games played this season but will be a healthy scratch Monday as the Senators take on Calgary. Austin Watson will fill be drawing into the lineup instead of Gambrell.
Harris has a goal, 10 assists, 48 SOG, 18 PIMs and a -6 plus/minus through 47 games this season and has agreed to a two-year contract extension worth $2.8 Million ($1.4 Million AAV) with the Montreal Canadiens. The deal will make the 22-year-old a Canadien until at least the end of the 2024-25 season.
Berni was returned to the Cleveland Monsters (AHL) for the NHL all-star break where he has a goal, three assists, 12 PIMs and a -1 plus/minus but will head back to the Blue Jackets Thursday. In 28 games with Columbus this season, he has a goal, 30 SOG, 18 PIMs and a -17 plus/minus.
Labanc will surprisingly head to the press box for a second straight contest as a healthy scratch Tuesday as San Jose takes on Tampa Bay. The 27-year-old has 10 goals, 15 assists, 83 SOG, 22 PIMs and a -3 plus/minus through 45 games played prior to his recent time off.
Christiansen has two assists, 21 SOG, four PIMs and a -3 plus/minus through 18 games but will be a healthy scratch Tuesday as Columbus takes on Washington. Marcus Bjork will replace him in the Blue Jackets lineup.
Bjork hasn't played for the Blue Jackets since January 10th but will draw back into the lineup as a replacement for Jake Christiansen Tuesday. The 25-year-old has three goals, eight assists, 29 SOG, 24 PIMs and a -5 plus/minus through 26 games so far this season.
Chinakhov has been out since Dec. 19th due to an ankle injury but was skating for the first time at practice Tuesday. The 21-year-old winger has four goals, nine assists, 44 SOG and 10 PIMs through 30 games prior to his injury.
