Blue Jackets down top line after Boone Jenner's injury

Eight days before their regular season begins, the Columbus Blue Jackets are already missing their entire first line.

The team announced that Boone Jenner will miss the next five weeks after surgery to repair a broken hand suffered when he was hit by a puck in Sunday's practice.

"It got him just right," general manager Jarmo Kekalainen told The Columbus Dispatch. "It was a pretty light practice. It was the only shooting drill we did the whole time, and it gets him."

The top line that was supposed to comprise wingers Jenner and Nathan Horton, along with center Ryan Johansen, has not been together all training camp. Horton is dealing with a back injury, and there's no timetable for his return. Johansen and the Blue Jackets are in the middle of a contract dispute.

Jenner, 21, recorded 16 goals and 29 points during his rookie season in 2013-14. With Johansen missing, Jenner was expected to fill his first-line center role.

After reaching the playoffs for the second time in the franchise's 13-year history, the Blue Jackets could find themselves in trouble early on, especially with other Metropolitan Division rivals making improvements.

The projected first line of Johansen, Jenner and Horton offers great offensive upside, with the ability to play with pace and toughness.

Now, the Blue Jackets will turn to what was their second line to fill the void. Brandon Dubinsky, dealing with a minor injury himself, likely will be the top center. Scott Hartnell and and Cam Atkinson could flank him.

"That's why we have a second line, a third line and a fourth line," Kekalainen said. "It's an opportunity for some of our other guys now."

Columbus currently has nine healthy forwards on one-way contracts.