Erik Gudbranson

Erik Gudbranson eyes a Saturday return, giving coaches a veteran blueliner amid injury scrambles. He slots in seamlessly on the third pair, stabilizing shifts that rookies fumble. Fantasy streams light up when he draws in, especially against soft matchups. GMs value his reliability as playoffs loom large.

Columbus defenseman Erik Gudbranson, fresh off a brutal hip injury that shelved him for 38 games, leaves his latest game with an upper-body issue that has the Blue Jackets' training staff scrambling. The 34-year-old vet just reclaimed his shutdown role on the blue line, chipping in points and hits while stabilizing a banged-up back end desperate for his physical presence.

Erik Gudbranson hits the final year of his four-year pact with the Blue Jackets, but whispers from Nationwide Arena suggest Columbus sees enough in the veteran blueliner to talk extension. He's battled hip woes that sidelined him for chunks of the last two seasons, yet his physical presence and leadership keep him in the mix on a banged-up back end.