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Columbus Blue Jacket Rookie Markus Nutivaara to have Hip Surgery

By Lansing Murphy |
Apr 4, 2017; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Markus Nutivaara (65) handles the puck against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the second period at the PPG PAINTS Arena. The Penguins won 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 4, 2017; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Markus Nutivaara (65) handles the puck against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the second period at the PPG PAINTS Arena. The Penguins won 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Rookie Defenseman Markus Nutivaara is set to have hip surgery, placing him on a four month recovery. The surgery was announced by Columbus Blue Jackets General Manager Jarmo Kekalainen at the exit press conference.

Rookie blueliner Markus Nutivaara will have hip surgery in the next few days to correct a nagging injury. The announcement came at the exit interviews Columbus Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen and President of Hockey Operations John Davidson gave today.

Jarmo announced the surgery early in the press conference. Half way through the questions, it came out that Markus had been injured since at least early in the 2017 calendar year. Markus missed a stretch of games in January and February that was due to this injury. Nutivaara played in 66 of the Jackets 82 regular season games.

The injury kept him from playing in the first three games of the playoffs. His play in the final two games was fantastic especially now considering the injury.

He played in the third pairing but had a critical goal in game four. He scored a goal and added an assist in over nine minutes of ice time. In game five, he played 14 minutes and had a +1 rating.

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Nutivaara’s Future

The young Fin has four months of recovery ahead of him. The long stretch will prevent him from competing for a spot on Team Finland for the World Championships and slow down his offseason progression.

Markus played well for the Jackets as a rookie third pair defenseman who was drafted in the 7th round. The 22-year-old though is one of many bright youngsters on the blue line for the Jackets.

With the play of Gabriel Carlsson in the playoffs, Torts liking of Scott Harrington, and other talented prospects in the pipe, the D-core will be competitive next season. With a healthy Ryan Murray coming back, a missed offseason of training will be tough for Markus.

The expansion draft might open up a spot on the blue line with the Jackets likely to try and offer up Jack Johnson or Ryan Murray as bait to the Vegas Golden Knights. That might be the only way Markus makes the team again next season.

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