The Columbus Blue Jackets have activated center Alexandre Texier from the COVID-19 protocol list and assigned Texier and left wing Mikhail Griogrenko to the club's taxi squad, Blue Jackets General Manager and Alternate Governor Jarmo Kekalainen announced today.
Texier, 21, has registered four goals and five assists for nine points with eight penalty minutes in 30 games with Columbus this season. The St. Martin D'heres, France native has posted 11-12-23, 18 penalty minutes and a cumulative +3 plus/minus rating in 68 contests with the club since making his NHL debut at the end of the 2018-19 campaign. He led Blue Jackets rookies in shooting percentage (12.2) and ranked third in goals (tied), assists and points with 6-7-13 in 36 appearances in 2019-20. The 6-1, 186-pound center was selected by Columbus in the second round, 45th overall, at the 2017 NHL Draft.
Grigorenko, 26, has posted 2-5-7 with two penalty minutes in 18 games this season. Signed by Columbus to a one-year contract as a free agent on July 16, 2020, he made his club debut in the season opener on January 14 at Nashville and scored his first goal on January 23 vs. Tampa Bay. The Khabarovsk, Russia native has recorded 24-47-71 and 32 penalty minutes in 235 career NHL games with the Blue Jackets, Colorado Avalanche and Buffalo Sabres. The 6-3, 206-pound forward was originally selected by Buffalo in the first round, 12th overall, at the 2012 NHL Draft.
CBJ assign Grigorenko, Texier to the taxi squad
