With right-winger Nikolai Zherdev set to return, the Columbus Blue Jackets assigned centre Geoff Platt to the Syracuse Crunch of the American Hockey League on Sunday.
Zherdev is expected to make his regular season debut against the Phoenix Coyotes on Monday night.
The restricted free agent appeared set to play in Russia this season, but the two sides agreed on a three-year, $7.5 million US deal on Sept. 28.
Nikolai Zherdev, 21, finished second in both goals and points for the Blue Jackets last season.
(Jeff Vinnick/Getty Images)
Zherdev, a 21-year-old from Ukraine, was the runner-up in goals (27) and points (54) for the Blue Jackets last season, his second in the NHL.
Platt played one regular-game with Columbus and did not record a point. The 21-year-old Toronto native led the Blue Jackets in pre-season scoring with seven points (four goals, three assists) in four games.
Platt, who played junior hockey with the Ontario Hockey League's Erie Otters, recorded 30 goals and 65 points in 68 games with Syracuse last season. He also had five assists in 15 games with Columbus.
