Atkinson, 28, has missed the past 11 games with a fractured foot suffered on December 23 vs. Philadelphia. He has recorded six goals and seven assists for 13 points with 10 penalty minutes and an "even" plus/minus rating in 32 games with the Blue Jackets this season. The native of Riverside, Connecticut has posted 127-113-240, 112 penalty minutes and a +9 plus/minus rating in 414 career games since being selected with the club's sixth round selection, 157th overall, in the 2008 NHL Draft. He has led the Jackets in scoring in each of the past two seasons, including a career-high 35-27-62, 22 penalty minutes and was +13 in 82 games.

Gerbe, 30, who was signed to a one-year, two-way NHL/AHL contract on Wednesday, notched 2-5-7 and 85 penalty minutes in 19 games with Genève-Servette HC in the National League (Switzerland) this season and has posted 13-22-35 and 107 penalty minutes in 38 games with the club since 2016-17. The Oxford, Michigan native has registered 58-80-138 and 172 penalty minutes in 394 career NHL games with the Buffalo Sabres and Carolina Hurricanes from 2008-16 and added 41-53-94 and 109 penalty minutes in 101 career AHL games with the Portland Pirates from 2008-10. He was originally drafted by the Sabres in the fifth round, 142nd overall, in the 2005 NHL Draft.

READ: BLUE JACKETS SIGN GERBE