As the calendar finally turns from a tough November to the final month of 2025, Union Blue fans are hoping that the club can turn around its late-game misfortunes and get some healthy bodies back into the lineup sooner rather than later.
Thankfully, after the team skated and practiced on Sunday, the 30th of November, it sounds like the news is more good than bad on the latter front at the very least.
To start, it sounds like Captain Blue Jacket (Boone Jenner) will be returning to game play within the next two games. Per our resident Jackets Insider, Jeff Svoboda, Boone has been skating for the past several days and jumped back into a whole team practice for the first time since his injury.
With Sean Monahan out of practice for an injury maintenance day, reportedly, "CBJ" jumped into the center position between what is currently the second line, between Luca Pinelli and Cole Sillinger.
While it remains to be seen if Booner will be able to go by Thursday, the 4th, against the Detroit Red Wings at Nationwide, returning to a full practice is a great sign.
#CBJ coach Dean Evason said captain Boone Jenner is “close” to a return but it didn’t seem like it would be tomorrow in New Jersey. Sounds like they want him to get a few more skates in before getting back in the lineup.
— Jeff Svoboda (@JacketsInsider) November 30, 2025
On the other hand, we did get some additionally good news, with one caveat and one piece of bad news.
Correct, though I believe 86 and 44 skated on their own. Not at practice, though.
— Jeff Svoboda (@JacketsInsider) November 30, 2025
It's excellent news that both Kirill Marchenko and Erik Gudbranson have begun skating on their own. It sounds like both might not be ready to go for the next tilt against the Devils, but starting to skate suggests a return is closer to "day-to-day" than "week-to-week."
Marchenko has been out since suffering an undisclosed injury during the club's morning skate on November 24th and appears to be taking it game by game. "Guddy" has been out since early November and currently remains on injured reserve after suffering from an uncertain hip injury, per Brian Hedger of the Columbus Dispatch.
Erik has played in only four games to this point in the campaign, after missing over 60 games due to a shoulder injury last year. Gudbranson is entering the final year of his deal in Columbus, and his lack of consistent health over the past two seasons doesn't bode well for his chances of an extension after the 2025-26 campaign.
Unfortunately, the final piece of news is more long-term inclined. Mathieu Olivier appears to be out on a "week-to-week" basis rather than game-to-game. Per Aaron Portzline of The Athletic, after exiting early last week, he has not yet begun skating and remains shelved for the time being.
The Union Blue fan favorite will likely have his status checked again next weekend to assess his readiness to start skating, but I would guess we won't have a firm timetable until at least the middle of December.
The Blue Jackets next take the ice on Monday the 1st at 7 PM from New Jersey, where they're set to battle the Metropolitan-leading Devils from the Garden State.