Laine out 3-4 weeks with sprained ankle

Columbus Blue Jackets sniper Patrik Laine is expected to miss three-to-four weeks due to a sprained ankle sustained on Saturday, the team announced Monday.

Laine was given the same recovery timeline after hurting his elbow on opening night, but he made an early return.

The 24-year-old has appeared in eight games this season, collecting two goals and two assists while averaging nearly 20 minutes per contest. He's in the first season of a four-year, $34.8-million contract signed this past summer.

Laine's notched 81 points in 109 games with the Blue Jackets since he was acquired from the Winnipeg Jets during the 2020-21 campaign.

Columbus currently sits eighth in the Metropolitan Division after a 4-9-1 start.