Blue Jackets Veteran Out for Season After Shoulder Surgery

The Columbus Blue Jackets will be without one of their consistent blue liners for the rest of the season in a pivotal playoff race.

Mar 24, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Damon Severson (78) controls the puck against the Philadelphia Flyers in the first period at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images | Kyle Ross-Imagn Images

The Columbus Blue Jackets are in the middle of a tight playoff race that has seen their team lose 5 straight games and drop out of playoff position. They had been occupying the third Metropolitan Division spot and second wild card spot in the East for a bit.

And with their recent losing streak, they are now tied with the Ottawa Senators with 88 points for the second wildcard spot in the East, but as of the current moment, Ottawa occupies that spot. And a playoff push gets harder for the Blue Jackets with the recent news that came out.

Defenseman Damon Severson is going to miss the rest of the season after having shoulder surgery. Severson has been so consistent on the backend for Columbus and he is going to be dearly missed for this final push.

🚨 Team Update 🚨

Defenseman Damon Severson underwent successful surgery yesterday to repair an injured shoulder and will miss the rest of the season.

📝 https://t.co/ZB8nYBJtQC

CBJ x @OHHeartofitAll pic.twitter.com/5ZzJz9Krgx

— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) April 3, 2026

Severson had been getting a lot of minutes with fellow defenseman Zach Werenski on Columbus' top defensive pairing. Now head coach Rick Bowness is going to have to decide how he is going to navigate those minutes that Severson is going to miss for the rest of the season.

Mar 24, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski (8) reacts after scoring a goal against the Philadelphia Flyers in the second period at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images | Kyle Ross-Imagn Images

It is tough for the Blue Jackets knowing their losing streak and now being without one of their more consistent players for the last few games of the regular season. Werenski is going to be counted on now more than ever to fill that void no matter who Bowness decides to pair with him.

Dante Fabbro is more than capable of playing the Severson role

Defenseman Dante Fabbro for the time being is the one that has been slotted in next to Werenski on the top defensive pairing to replace Severson. And Fabbro is a veteran himself having played for the Nashville Predators before and knowing how he needs to play to help his team out.

Fabbro is a guy that was actually claimed off of waivers by the Blue Jackets last season and then signed to an extension after he played well the second half of the season. And now with Severson being out, it is now Fabbro's chance to show he belongs on the top pairing.

He is more than capable of playing against team's top lines and being able to help shut them down and play stout defense like Severson would if he was not injured. Bowness needs to be able to trust his veteran and let him figure it out after being bumped up with Werenski.

Fabbro has a golden opportunity to show his coach that bumping him up is not a mistake. And knowing how close the Blue Jackets are to the playoff line, the Blue Jackets need Fabbro to step up his game.

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