Blue Jackets' Laine expected to miss 6 weeks with broken clavicle

Columbus Blue Jackets forward Patrik Laine will likely be out for six weeks due to a clavicle fracture sustained in Thursday's win over the Toronto Maple Leafs, his club announced Friday.

Laine left the Jackets' 6-5 overtime victory in the second frame and didn't return. He opened the scoring in the first period with his sixth goal of the season.

The 25-year-old also has three assists across 18 games in 2023-24. He's endured numerous injuries in his career and hasn't played more than 68 contests in a campaign since 2018-19. The Finnish skater missed 10 games during the abbreviated 2021 season.

Laine is in his eighth NHL campaign and his third full season with Columbus. The Blue Jackets acquired him in a trade with the Winnipeg Jets in January 2021.

He's under contract through 2025-26 with an $8.7-million cap hit, according to CapFriendly. The Jackets signed him to a four-year pact in July 2022.

Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.