Heatherington, 21, registered three goals and 16 assists for 19 points with 50 penalty minutes and a +17 plus/minus rating in 63 games in his first full professional season with the Lake Erie Monsters in 2015-16. He added 0-3-3 in 15 postseason contests to help the club capture the 2016 Calder Cup. The Calgary, Alberta native has posted 3-17-20 with 50 penalty minutes and a +18 plus/minus rating in 66 career AHL games since making his pro debut with the Springfield Falcons at the end of the 2014-15 campaign. Columbus' second round pick, 50th overall, in the 2013 NHL Draft, Heatherington tallied 13-74-87, 254 penalty minutes and was +35 in 247 career WHL games with the Swift Current Broncos from 2010-15.

The Blue Jackets, who are 6-1-1 in the past eight games to improve to 8-4-2 on the season, return to action on Friday when they host the New York Rangers. Game time at Nationwide Arena is 7 p.m. Live coverage on FOX Sports Ohio begin with the Blue Jackets Live pre-game show starting at 6:30 p.m. The game will also be broadcast live on the Scioto Downs Blue Jackets Radio Network, including 97.1 The Fan, and online at BlueJackets.com.