Kukan, 28, suffered a wrist fracture in Monday's game vs. Dallas and is expected to miss eight weeks. He has registered three shots and a +2 plus/minus rating in two contests with the Blue Jackets this season. The 6-2, 190-pound blueliner has collected two goals and 17 assists for 19 points with 30 penalty minutes and a cumulative +7 plus/minus rating in 114 career games since making his NHL debut with Columbus in 2015-16.
A native of Volketswil, Switzerland, Kukan set a career high in games played and tied his career highs in goals and points after finishing with 1-4-5 and 10 penalty minutes in 35 appearances with the Blue Jackets in 2020-21. He originally signed with the Blue Jackets as a free agent on June 1, 2015.
Bayreuther, 27, who re-signed as a free agent with Columbus to a two-year contract on July 28, has posted 3-3-6 with 17 penalty minutes and a cumulative +1 plus/minus rating in 28 career games with the Blue Jackets and Stars since making his NHL debut in 2018-19. Previously signed by the Blue Jackets as a free agent on Oct. 9, 2020, he made his team debut on Apr. 19, 2021 at Florida and collected 1-0-1 in nine games in 2020-21.
The Canaan, New Hampshire native has added 25-81-106 and 118 penalty minutes in 217 career AHL games, including 0-3-3, 20 penalty minutes and a +4 plus/minus rating in five appearances with the Monsters this season. In 2020-21, he collected 3-9-12 and 18 penalty minutes in 14 outings with the team. The 6-1, 196-pound defenseman was originally signed by the Stars to an entry level contract on Mar. 15, 2017.
