Blue Jackets pick up centre Gratton, place defenceman Tollefsen on IR

COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Columbus Blue Jackets claimed centre Chris Gratton off waivers from the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday.

The Blue Jackets, who have collected points in their last seven games, also placed defenceman Ole-Kristian Tollefsen on injured reserve and recalled defenceman Aaron Rome from their AHL affiliate in Syracuse.

The 33-year-old Gratton had two assists in 18 games with the Lightning this season. In 24 games with Norfolk of the AHL, he has three goals and 12 assists.

Tampa Bay's first pick and the third overall in the 1993 draft, Gratton has 214 goals and 353 assists in 1,086 career games with the Lightning, Philadelphia, Buffalo, Phoenix, Colorado and Florida. He played the 1,000th game of his NHL career against the Ottawa Senators on March 22, 2007.

Columbus finds itself is in the middle of its first playoff race. Gratton has eight goals and seven assists in 40 career Stanley Cup playoff games.

Tollefsen is expected to be sidelined four to six weeks with a lower body injury, general manager Scott Howson said.

Tollefsen has one assist and 37 penalty minutes in 19 games this season. The Oslo, Norway, native was Columbus' third pick in the 2002 draft and has four goals and six assists in 145 career NHL games.

The 25-year-old Rome has seven goals and 21 assists in 48 games with Syracuse this season. The Blue Jackets acquired him and defenceman Clay Wilson from Anaheim for forward Geoff Platt on Nov. 15, 2007. He had a goal and an assist in 17 games with the Blue Jackets last season.