A week into training camp and a week away from the regular season, the Blue Jackets are already facing challenges to their defensive depth.
Dante Fabbro, who left with an upper-body injury during a 1-0 shootout win over the Detroit Red Wings
to open preseason action, will likely miss the start of the season with an unspecified injury that may keep him out weeks rather than days.
"He's going to be out a little while," Blue Jackets coach Rick Bowness said after practice Sept. 23 at Nationwide Arena. "Do we have a timetable? No, but it's going to be a little bit. Longer than we had hoped."
Options to replace Fabbro on the left side of the third defensive pairing include Jake Christiansen
and veteran Carson Soucy, who's in camp with a professional tryout offer.
Elsewhere on the blue line, Bowness also said it's too soon to project that Damon Severson (shoulder) will be cleared to play in the season-opener Oct. 1 against the Buffalo Sabres.
"That's pushing the envelope way too hard," Bowness said. "We're not there yet at all. I talk to him every day. Every day, he tells me he feels good, and every day we're increasing the workload in terms of contact, but are we ready to say [he'll play Oct. 1]? No, not even close."
Severson underwent shoulder surgery April 2 and missed the end of last season. He hasn't missed a practice in camp, but is working with Zach Werenski on the top pairing while wearing a gold "no contact" jersey.
The Blue Jackets, who'll host their third of four preseason games Sept. 24 against Pittsburgh, also lost depth forward Mikael Pyythia to a lower-body injury in a 5-1 loss to the Sabreson Sept. 23 in Buffalo. Pyyhtia is expected to miss several days.
Dispatch Blue Jackets/Crew reporter Brian Hedger can be reached at bhedger@dispatch.com
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Fabbro, Severson injuries test Columbus Blue Jackets' depth
