Blue Jackets winger Gustav Nyquist out 5-6 months after shoulder surgery

The Columbus Blue Jackets confirmed on Wednesday that winger Gustav Nyquist underwent surgery on Tuesday to repair a labral tear of his left shoulder. Nyquist is expected to make a full recovery in five to six months, according to general manager Jarmo Kekalainen. 

The operation occurred at the Cleveland Clinic.

"This was a chronic issue that Gus has been dealing with for a number of seasons," Kekalainen said of the 31-year-old. "He has been able to perform at a high level, but a cyst in the area developed over time that has inhibited his ability to continue to do so. As a result, surgery was the best course of action and we look forward to having him back at full strength this season."

As noted by an ESPN story, Nyquist signed a four-year agreement with the Blue Jackets in 2019 and appeared in 70 regular-season games during the 2019-20 campaign until the NHL halted play on March 12 due to the coronavirus pandemic. He tallied 15 goals and 27 assists for 42 points, good for second on the Blue Jackets behind Pierre-Luc Dubois (49 points). 

Nyquist played in 10 games as part of the NHL's summer restart and contributed two helpers across those contests.