The Blue Jackets have announced that forward Alexandre Giroux is on his way back to the Springfield Falcons, having contributed a goal and eight PIMs since being called up in mid-October. 

Given opportunities around the lineup, Giroux never really seemed to find a solid fit, though he seemed to have some good chemistry with friend and teammate Antoine Vermette. With luck, the return to Springfield will give the Falcons a boost as he returns to where he has frequently been a dangerous and effective scorer.

The interesting twist is who may take his spot on the lineup, as several reports from this morning's practice have Jeff Carter on the ice in a red "No-Contact" jersey, while Jared Boll took part in full practice on Sunday.

If Boll is ready to go into the lineup on Thursday vs. the Blackhawks, (Edit: And it would appear that he is - the team has announced he's been cleared to play) it would make sense to return Giroux to provide him with a spot on the fourth line, possibly next to Derek MacKenzie and Cam Atkinson, but the really interesting scenario could prove to be Carter testing his foot over the next few days and determining if his pain level is acceptable. Finally getting to see both Carter and James Wisniewski on the ice for the Jackets at the same time might not fix everything, but it would certainly help ease the pain for quite a few fans.