Along with bolstering their forward group by adding Conor Garland, the Blue Jackets got some welcome injury news March 6 before the NHL trade deadline arrived.
More: Jenner to return, Werenski questionable for Columbus Blue Jackets
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Don Waddell, the Jackets’ president of hockey operations/general manager, said defenseman Zach Werenski (illness) is trending toward a return March 7 against the Utah Mammoth. Mason Marchment and Dante Fabbro, meanwhile, are day-to-day with lower-body injuries.
The Blue Jackets won all three games that Werenski has missed while sick, but they’re eager to get their leading scorer and top defenseman back on the ice. Werenski skated on his own March 6 at Nationwide Arena, and Waddell hopes he’ll play against Utah.
Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski (8) skates by New York Islanders center Mathew Barzal (13) during the second period of the NHL hockey game at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on Feb. 28, 2026.
“I saw him today (March 6) and talked to him,” Waddell said. “I talked to him about Garland, and he skated for a minute. He’s eating. So, unless something goes sideways, he’ll play.”
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Fabbro was injured in a 3-2 victory over the Nashville Predators on March 3 and Marchment left in the second period of a 4-2 win March 5 against the Florida Panthers. One or both may return as soon the game against Utah or March 9 against the Los Angeles Kings.
“Dante and Mason are day-to-day at this point,” Waddell said. “All the MRIs and all of that came back negative today. That was obviously something I was curious about. We talked to our trainer around noon, and both of them are day-to-day.”
Blue Jackets reporter Brian Hedger can be reached at bhedger@dispatch.com and @BrianHedger.bsky.social
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Werenski, Marchment and Fabbro day-to-day for Columbus Blue Jackets