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Murray (knee) could return during Columbus’ California trip

Columbus Blue Jackets v Pittsburgh Penguins - Game Five

PITTSBURGH, PA - APRIL 26: Ryan Murray #27 of the Columbus Blue Jackets skates against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game Five of the First Round of the 2014 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Consol Energy Center on April 26, 2014 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

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The Columbus Blue Jackets won’t get defenseman Ryan Murray back against the Ottawa Senators on Saturday, but there’s a possibility he might make the team’s road trip against all three California teams, according to the Columbus Dispatch’s Aaron Portzline.

Murray, 21, is awaiting results from a procedure on his knee, as Portzline notes:

Here’s the Blue Jackets’ California trip (all away games):

Thursday: at Sharks
Friday: at Ducks
Sunday: at Kings

That’s a rough stretch of three games in four nights, even if travel shouldn’t be much of a headache. It’s unclear how likely Murray is to really play there, but perhaps getting him in on Friday - when another defenseman might be a little fatigued - would serve Columbus best.

It’s been a frustrating run of injuries for Murray, who was the second overall pick of the 2012 NHL Draft. The Blue Jackets memorably passed on the New York Islanders’ entire 2012 draft package to grab the offensively gifted blueliner, but so far the grade on that non-deal is an “incomplete.” In case you’re wondering, Griffin Reinhart has appeared in three Islanders games so far in 2014-15, although he hasn’t been particularly effective just yet.

Follow James O’Brien @cyclelikesedins