Derek MacKenzie has undergone "minor" surgery on his right shoulder. He's expected to need a couple of months to recover. MacKenzie can become an unrestricted free agent in July, but Columbus would like to bring him back.

Derek MacKenzie is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. The Blue Jackets have five other players who are eligible for unrestricted free agency as Blake Comeau, Curtis McElhinney, Nikita Nikitin, Jack Skille and Nick Schultz could also fly the coop. MacKenzie is a valuable contributor on the ice and the Blue Jackets should make him a priority in the off-season. He had only nine goals and 18 points in 71 games this season so his fantasy value is negligible in pools where points are a priority.

Derek MacKenzie netted a goal in a 4-3 loss to Pittsburgh in Game 1 of the first round. MacKenzie was playing in his first career postseason contest at the age of 32. He had nine goals and 18 points in 71 games this season.

Derek MacKenzie found the back of the net in the Blue Jackets' 3-2 victory over Montreal. It was MacKenzie's eighth goal and 16th point in 58 games this season. The 32-year-old isn't expected to ever have much fantasy value and this might actually go down as one of his most productive campaigns from a purely offensive perspective.

Derek MacKenzie scored a goal in Columbus' 3-2 loss on Monday. It was MacKenzie's third goal and fourth point in three games. Despite his recent outburst, he doesn't typically contribute from an offensive perspective and has no fantasy value in standard leagues.

Derek MacKenzie had a goal and an assist in Saturday's 5-2 loss to Buffalo. MacKenzie has only four goals and 10 points in 40 games this season but has two goals and four points in his last four games. He was not good at the face off dot as he won only two of seven draws.

Derek MacKenzie had two assists in his first game back after serving a three game suspension. MacKenzie drew the suspension for a hit from behind on the Coyotes Oliver Ekman-Larsson. MacKenzie was surprised at the suspension and returned with a vengeance as he now has two goals, six points and 107 hits in 34 games.

Derek MacKenzie is eligible to return Saturday in Winnipeg after serving his three-game suspension. He received the ban for hitting Phoenix defender Oliver Ekman-Larsson from behind on Jan. 2. MacKenzie has four points and 105 hits in 33 games this campaign.

Derek MacKenzie was surprised that he was even suspended, never mind for three games. MacKenzie received the suspension when he slammed Oliver Ekman-Larsson from behind into the boards on Thursday. "When it originally happened, I had no idea it would even go to review," MacKenzie said. "I went (after the game) and asked a couple of their players if he was all right, and they told me he was OK, that he didn't break anything. "But 20 minutes after the game, I found out from the league that there would be a hearing, and at that point I figured something was coming." MacKenzie is due back on January 11.

The NHL has suspended Derek MacKenzie for three games. MacKenzie is being punished for hitting Phoenix's Oliver Ekman-Larsson from behind on Thursday. Ekman-Larsson sustained an injury on the play, but MacKenzie hasn't been suspended in the past. MacKenzie is eligible to return on Jan. 11.