Columbus Places Klesla on IR; Activate Jiri Novotny

[Thrillhouse]

COLUMBUS, OHIO - The Columbus Blue Jackets have placed defenseman Rostislav Klesla on injured reserve and activated forward Jiri Novotny, club General Manager Scott Howson announced today. Klesla, who injured in Tuesday's 3-0 win over Colorado, was evaluated by team physicians from OhioHealth after the game and is expected to miss at least one week.

Klesla, who has collected one goal and five assists for six points with 23 penalty minutes and a +1 plus/minus rating in 23 games this season, was activated off injured reserve on February 3. He has missed 31 games due to injury this season after playing in all 82 games in 2007-08 and missing seven contests over the past two seasons. Columbus' first pick, fourth overall, in the 2000 Entry Draft, he has registered 36-76-112 and 441 penalty minutes in 433 career games with the Blue Jackets.

Novotny, who has been sidelined since January 3 and missed the past 15 games, has tallied 1-3-4 with four penalty minutes and a +6 plus/minus rating in 26 games this season. He has picked up 17-31-48 and 56 penalty minutes in 173 career games with Columbus, Washington and Buffalo.

[AVALANCHE FAN]

No cant be not Klesla!!

[JKidd]

When the hell did Rusty get activated? I thought he's been on IR for the past, like, 3 months?

Or I mean 3 years...

[jacketsfan11]

FUUUUCKKKK

NOOOOOOO

I hate Jiri Novotny! One of the most useless players ever to hit the ice. Doesn't score, can't skate, can't play D, can't hit, can't fight, sucks at faceoffs. Just takes up space.

[J_Shelley45]

As I posted on the Dispatch site, we should get Klesla a name tag that says "Hello, I.R. Rusty Klesla"