COLUMBUS, OHIO - The Columbus Blue Jackets have placed defenseman Ryan Murray on Injured Reserve, club General Manager Jarmo Kekalainen announced today. Murray is expected to miss four to six weeks due to a high ankle sprain suffered during last Friday’s game against the St. Louis Blues.

Murray, 21, who missed 44 games earlier this season due to a knee injury, has recorded one assist and six penalty minutes in nine games this season. He collected 4-17-21 with four penalty minutes and a +4 plus/minus rating in 66 games in his first NHL season in 2013-14.

The Regina, Saskatchewan native was the club’s first pick, second overall, in the 2013 NHL Draft and registered 22-99-121 with 121 penalty minutes and a cumulative +51 plus/minus rating in 191 career games with the Everett Silvertips of the Western Hockey League from 2009-12. A member of Canada’s bronze medal-winning team at the 2012 World Junior Championships, he also played in the 2012 World Championships, becoming the second-youngest player ever to represent Canada in the tournament.

The Blue Jackets return to action tonight when they host the Los Angeles Kings. Game time from Nationwide Arena is 7 p.m. ET. Live coverage on FOX Sports Ohio begins with the Blue Jackets Live pre-game show at 6:30 p.m. The game will also be broadcast live on the Scioto Downs Blue Jackets Radio Network, including the flagship station 97.1 The Fan, and online at BlueJackets.com.