You know things are bad when a team’s Twitter account is pleading with the “hockey gods” for mercy: the Columbus Blue Jackets announced that Artem Anisimov will miss two-to-three months with a torn triceps muscle.
One must consult a nearby thesaurus to find a more ornate word for what Columbus is going through, as “ridiculous” doesn’t even seem appropriate.
The hope is that Brandon Dubinsky will finally come back soon, with even an outside chance of returning today. Even so, the damage has already been done - November was the worst month in the franchise’s rocky history - and it doesn’t seem like they’ll be much closer to full strength for a while.
Anisimov hasn’t been a world-beater with six points in 16 games played, yet he’s an experienced player who seems to move the puck forward. Without the 26-year-old, the Blue Jackets must stretch their lineup that much thinner, even if Dubinsky could conceivably replace his work and maybe add a little bit more.
Sadly, it’s tough to imagine Columbus being deep in the playoff mix whenever Anisimov can return.
One can understand this tweet, all things considered.
.@HockeyGods stop it
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) December 1, 2014