What will it take for the Blue Jackets to get back into the playoffs?

To say last season ended in disastrous fashion for the Columbus Blue Jackets would be putting it moderately.

After being in the thick of the playoff race for much of the season, the Blue Jackets completely collapsed down the stretch, winning just two of their final 10 games. 

The collapse resulted in the Blue Jackets missing the playoffs for the sixth consecutive season. The last time they were in the postseason was during the 2020 bubble playoffs, which was an extended format due to the pandemic that resulted in them ousting the Toronto Maple Leafs in the five-game, play-in round. 

Several factors fueled the demise, most notably the disruption of the 2026 Winter Olympics.

“I think the Olympic break definitely came at the wrong time for us,’’ Blue Jackets director of player personnel Rick Nash said while in discussion with Daily Faceoff. “We had a bunch of momentum going (into the break); obviously it’s no excuse but a reality of the situation. We could never really find the momentum that we had before when we got back (from the break).

“We’re hoping our young core learns from it and gains some experience. Our start (to last season) was also not great so we had a lot of catching up to do; I think that will be a big part of this season.”

That sluggish start prompted a mid-season coaching change, with Columbus bringing the once-retired Rick Bowness in to replace Dean Evason. Bowness sent shockwaves across the NHL with scathing comments following a late-season loss, publicly calling out his team’s compete level. Now 71, Bowness returns this season with a full runway to finish what he started.

Bowness, 71, was brought back for this season to help finish what he started in Columbus. 

“I think Bowness’ resume speaks for itself,’’ said Nash. “When a coach comes in halfway through a season it can be tough, you’re not sure how it’s going to go. He didn’t get to have his own training camp or put in his systems from day one. 

“This year Bowness can rely on his experience, willingness for finding a winning team who plays the right way – it will be much easier for him (having a full year).’’

As is often the case when it comes to Columbus, their star-defenseman Zach Werenski’s name circled the rumor mill in June. Werenski and the team ultimately shut down the rumors, issuing public statements that both sides are on the same page.

Coming off a Norris Trophy and an Olympic gold medal, the 29-year-old defenseman is the undisputed cornerstone of the franchise. Having a focused, elite Werenski anchoring the blue line is arguably the most critical variable for Columbus this year.

“(Werenski) is an Olympic Gold medalist who knows what it takes to win,’’ said Nash. ‘’He’s a Norris trophy winner and a guy we love having in Columbus. Those guys are hard to replace – or even hard to find – and it’s such a huge deal to have him on the ice. And off the ice he is one of our leaders. 

“We’re really excited to move on (from all the noise in June) and get ready to play hockey.’’

Nash himself was once upon a time the captain of the Blue Jackets. Widely considered the best and most popular player in franchise history, Nash dawned the “C’’ from 2007 until his trade to the New York Rangers in 2012. The Blue Jackets are currently without a captain, with Boone Jenner leaving in free agency with the Washington Capitals.

While Nash remains uncertain about the timeline for naming a new captain – a decision that ultimately rests with Bowness and general manager Don Waddell – Werenski is the natural front-runner for the vacancy.

The Blue Jackets have had several high draft picks over the last number of seasons, one of which being Cayden Lindstrom. After being drafted fourth overall in 2024 NHL Draft, Lindstrom has battled injury problems, playing in just four playoff games for the Medicine Hat Tigers in 2024-25 and tallying just three goals and 10 points for Michigan State University last season. 

Despite a tough couple of seasons since being drafted, the Blue Jackets are still bullish on Lindstrom. 

‘’It’s a situation where he really hasn’t played a full season in a year and a half,” Nash said. “He took half a season to kind of get going and feel comfortable; towards the end of the season he was playing great. Going into the playoffs he was playing great and his game was coming back to finish off the season.

‘’This is a huge year for Cayden. He’s feeling good, had a huge summer in the gym and on the ice. We’re really excited for him, we believe in him and we’re going to have to see what he can do.’’

While Nash declined to offer specifics on the Fantilli negotiations, he acknowledged the rising tide of the restricted free agent market. Following the Philadelphia Flyers’ aggressive offer sheet to Anaheim’s Leo Carlsson, the internal contractual projections Columbus had for Fantilli pre-summer were likely blown out of the water.

Nash did not have any update in regards to the contract negotiations specifically, but he did allude to the financial playing field completely changing over the summer. Reading the tea leaves, the contractual projections the Blue Jackets had for Fantilli pre-summer probably went up in smoke after the offer sheet by the Philadelphia Flyers to Leo Carlsson of the Ducks.

‘’For sure (the financial landscape changed),’’ said Nash. “A lot of projections on these guys (changed). Teams want to get their guys locked up and it was an exciting summer – a groundbreaking summer, too. It seems that every once in a while we get these crazy summers where the numbers (on contracts) just sky rocket, and that has been the case this year. The former player in me loves to see it – it’s exciting. But now on the management side, it definitely worries me a bit.

“It’s a whole different landscape we’re in and we’re all still learning and adjusting to it.’’

In a league full of parity, the Blue Jackets are – and have been – one of the teams on the bubble of the playoffs. As was the case last year, the goal in Columbus is to make the playoffs. 

“(The playoffs) are the goal for sure for us,’’ Nash said. “We need these young players to gain experience; not only in the regular season but in the post-season as well. You can take such huge steps from making the playoffs and being a playoff team.

“That is 100% the goal and would definitely define a successful season.’’

It has been a long time coming in Columbus in terms of getting back to being a playoff team and if the right players take the right step, it could be this season. The league is as competitive as ever, but in the mediocre Metropolitan Division, the Blue Jackets could find a way to sneak in and under the radar.