OCTOBER 26, 2021

COLUMBUS, OHIO – The Columbus Blue Jackets have placed defenseman Dean Kukan on Injured Reserve and recalled defenseman Gavin Bayreuther from the Cleveland Monsters, the club’s American Hockey League affiliate, General Manager and Alternate Governor Jarmo Kekalainen announced today. 

Kukan, 28, suffered a wrist fracture in Monday’s game vs. Dallas and is expected to miss eight weeks.  He has registered three shots and a +2 plus/minus rating in two contests with the Blue Jackets this season.  The 6-2, 190-pound blueliner has collected two goals and 17 assists for 19 points with 30 penalty minutes and a cumulative +7 plus/minus rating in 114 career games since making his NHL debut with Columbus in 2015-16. 

A native of Volketswil, Switzerland, Kukan set a career high in games played and tied his career highs in goals and points after finishing with 1-4-5 and 10 penalty minutes in 35 appearances with the Blue Jackets in 2020-21.  He originally signed with the Blue Jackets as a free agent on June 1, 2015.

Bayreuther, 27, who re-signed as a free agent with Columbus to a two-year contract on July 28, has posted 3-3-6 with 17 penalty minutes and a cumulative +1 plus/minus rating in 28 career games with the Blue Jackets and Stars since making his NHL debut in 2018-19.  Previously signed by the Blue Jackets as a free agent on Oct. 9, 2020, he made his team debut on Apr. 19, 2021 at Florida and collected 1-0-1 in nine games in 2020-21.

The Canaan, New Hampshire native has added 25-81-106 and 118 penalty minutes in 217 career AHL games, including 0-3-3, 20 penalty minutes and a +4 plus/minus rating in five appearances with the Monsters this season.  In 2020-21, he collected 3-9-12 and 18 penalty minutes in 14 outings with the team.  The 6-1, 196-pound defenseman was originally signed by the Stars to an entry level contract on Mar. 15, 2017.

The Blue Jackets return to action on Friday when they visit the New York Rangers.  Game time from Madison Square Garden is 7 p.m. ET.  The game will be broadcast live on Bally Sports Ohio and streamed on the Bally Sports app.  The game may also be heard on the Blue Jackets Radio Network, including flagship station Sports Radio 97.1 FM in Columbus.

‐ CBJ ‐

Single game tickets for all home games played at Nationwide Arena during the 2021-22 season are on sale now.  Full and partial season tickets for the Blue Jackets’ 2021-22 campaign are also currently available for purchase.  Information on all ticketing options can be obtained by calling (800) NHL‐COLS or by visiting BlueJackets.com.

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