The Columbus Blue Jackets placed Patrik Laine on the injured reserve Thursday as the Finnish forward is expected to miss three-to-four weeks due to an elbow sprain.
Laine sustained the injury during Wednesday's season opener on the road against the Carolina Hurricanes. The 24-year-old Laine was checked into the boards by defenceman Brett Pesce about midway through the second period and did not return.
Laine scored the Blue Jackets' lone goal earlier in the game as they lost 4-1.
The Tampere, Finland, native finished third on the team in scoring last season with 56 points — 26 goals and 30 assists — in 56 games.
Following the signing of coveted free agent Johnny Gaudreau, Laine agreed to a four-year, $34.8-million contract with the Blue Jackets on July 22.
Laine, who was selected second overall by the Winnipeg Jets in 2016, was traded to the Blue Jackets along with Jack Roslovic for Pierre-Luc Dubois and a third-round pick on Jan. 23, 2021.
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