Derek MacKenzie returned to action on Monday January 23.

Derek MacKenzie missed the Blue Jackets' morning skate due to an illness. MacKenzie is questionable for Saturday's game against Detroit. He has 10 points and 24 penalty minutes in 46 games this season.

Derek MacKenznie missed Saturday morning's skate due to the flu and is questionable for Saturday's game against the Red Wings. If MacKenzie is unable to play, his absence will not have any fantasy ramifications.

Derek MacKenzie scored his first goal since November 17th on Sunday. MacKenzie leads the Blue Jackets in hits with 87, but his offensive numbers are never as impressive. For a bottom-six forward, MacKenzie does provide a decent amount of secondary scoring, but he's not on anyone's radar in standard leagues. Still, if your in a deep league that uses hits as a category, MacKenzie should get you about 20 points and 175-200 hits this season.

Derek MacKenzie is slated to start Thursday's contest on the top line. He will be between wingers Vaclav Prospal and Rick Nash when Toronto comes into town. "I think my best asset is staying out of their way," MacKenzie said. "I need to be getting them pucks and let them do their thing. If I can help out a little in our end I'll do that, too."

Derek MacKenzie returned to action on Friday October 7.

Derek MacKenzie (knee) or Maksim Mayorov are likely to be scratched on Friday. MacKenzie, who set an season record for Columbus last season with a plus-14, has been hobbled with a knee injury so the Jackets may want to give him a little more time to recover. Stay tuned.

Derek MacKenzie (knee) is very probable for the Blue Jackets' season opener on Friday. Columbus has already sent Alexandre Giroux to the minors, which should be seen as a show of confidence regarding MacKenzie's health. If MacKenzie wasn't able to play, then Giroux would have probably stayed with the team and participated in the season opener.

Derek MacKenzie's (knee) availability for the Blue Jackets' season opener will probably be determined on Wednesday. How Wednesday's practice goes could be a huge factor in the Blue Jackets decision. If MacKenzie isn't healthy enough to play in the season opener, then Alexandre Giroux will stay on the team's roster for now.

Derek MacKenzie is a good bet to be in the Columbus Blue Jackets' lineup for their opener against Nashville on Friday. He's still no guarantee to play but it's very possible since he's been fitted for a knee brace and is waiting for it to arrive. How he feels the next couple of days -- it's more an issue of stability than discomfort, he said -- will determine if winger Alexandre Giroux stays with the club or not.