Columbus Blue Jackets News

The Blue Jackets will turn to Merzlikins in their season opener on Thursday against the Minnesota Wild. After an outstanding rookie season in 2019-20, where he posted a 2.35 GAA, .923 SV%, and five shutouts in 33 games (13-9-8), Merzlikins' quality of play has tailed off significantly and has been borderline abysmal. In his last two seasons combined, Merzlikins has a horrid 3.77 GAA and .889 SV% in 71 appearances (20-35-10). The Blue Jackets enter action as +223 road underdogs against the Wild.

The Blue Jackets will turn to Merzlikins in their season opener on Thursday against the Minnesota Wild. After an outstanding rookie season in 2019-20, where he posted a 2.35 GAA, .923 SV%, and five shutouts in 33 games (13-9-8), Merzlikins' quality of play has tailed off significantly and has been borderline abysmal. In his last two seasons combined, Merzlikins has a horrid 3.77 GAA and .889 SV% in 71 appearances (20-35-10). The Blue Jackets enter action as +223 road underdogs against the Wild.

Jenner is expected to miss the next 5-6 months as he rehabs from the successful shoulder surgery that he underwent on Wednesday. The 31-year-old Blue Jackets' captain will hope to return by seasons end while his absence will create a massive hole in their lineup after he had 22 goals, 35 points and 155 SOG in 58 games in 2023-24. Expect Sean Monahan and Adam Fantilli to lock down top-six roles while he recovers.

Hunt was the 65th overall pick of Minnesota in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. The 22-year-old defenseman made his NHL debut last season, playing 12 games, but spent most of the 2023-24 campaign in the AHL, tallying 29 points (3G / 26A) in 51 games for the Iowa Wild.

Aston-Reese signed a one-year, two-way contract with Vegas in the offseason but has been claimed off waivers by Columbus on Monday. The 29-year-old carries a $775,000 cap hit into the 2024-25 season and should provide much-needed depth for the Blue Jackets offence. In three games with Detroit in 2023-24, he failed to pick up a point while averaging only 5:09 TOI/GP.

Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell said that Jenner is going to be out "a while" and is going to see another specialist next week. The team should release a more detailed timetable following that appointment. Jenner battled injuries last season but still managed 35 points (22G / 13A) in 58 games. In an effort to replace Jenner, the Blue Jackets signed Kevin Labanc on Sunday.

Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell said that Jenner is going to be out "a while" and is going to see another specialist next week. The team should release a more detailed timetable following that appointment. In an effort to replace Jenner, the Blue Jackets signed Kevin Labanc on Sunday.

Voronkov will be out indefinitely with an upper-body injury after it was announced Friday that Columbus had placed him on injured reserve. The 24-year-old winger will have to delay his sophomore season debut with this latest news after putting up 18 goals, 34 points and 52 PIMs as a rookie in 75 games played in 2023-24.

Jenner lost an edge and slammed into the boards at practice on Friday. Jenner left practice with a trainer in obvious discomfort but the Blue Jackets did not provide any details on his status after the session.

Gudbranson has missed the last two preseason games with a lower-body injury but skated on Friday. Gudbranson is in the mix for playing time on the Blue Jackets' blueline but is questionable to be available for the season opener next Thursday.

Head coach Dean Evason did not have an update on Voronkov post-game, so for now consider him day-to-day until the Blue Jackets release more information in the coming days. Columbus opened their season next Thursday in Minnesota.

Brindley was expected to compete for one of Columbus' final roster spots heading into the regular season but has faced a setback after breaking his finger and will be placed on injured reserve with a return time of four to six weeks. The 19-year-old right-winger was Columbus' 2023 2nd round pick (34th overall) who is coming off 25 goals, and 53 points in 40 games at the University of Michigan (NCAA) in 2023-24.

Gaudreau was struck and killed by a car while riding a bicycle on Thursday evening. The accident occurred around 8:30 p.m. on Thursday in rural Salem County, N.J., outside of Philadelphia. The 11-year veteran played nine seasons with the Flames and two with the Blue Jackets, amassing 743 career points (243G / 500A) in 763 games.

Weeks after signing fellow 2021 1st-round pick (5th overall) Kent Johnson, Columbus has also agreed to signed Cole Sillinger to a two-year, $4.5 million contract extension ($2,250,000 AAV). The 21-year-old was drafted 12th overall by the Blue Jackets in 2021 and has faced his share of up-and downs since joining the NHL as an 18-year-old in 2021-22. In 77 games in 2023-24 he had 13 goals, 32 points, 46 PIMs and 157 SOG while averaging 16:07 TOI/GP.

Patrik Laine's offseason saga comes to an end after he was traded to Montreal on Monday alongside a 2026 2nd-round pick for Jordan Harris. Harris heads to Columbus after three strong seasons in Montreal and has eight goals and 32 points in 131 career games played. The 24-year-old was Montreal's 2018 3rd-round pick (71st overall).

Marchenko built on a successful first season in Columbus by scoring 23 goals with 19 assists (42 points) in 78 games in 2023-24. The Blue Jackets were not busy in the offseason, so Marchenko will be a prominent part of their top-6 again in 2024-25. He saw a small bump in ice time down the stretch last season, and that will need to remain if he's going to be a 30-plus goal scorer this season.

Johnson's up-and-down tenure in Columbus will continue after the 21-year-old former top prospect signed a three-year, $5.4 million contract ($1,800,000 AAV). The ex-Michigan superstar was Columbus' 2021 1st round pick (5th overall) and took a noticable step backwards in 2023-24 only picking up six goals and 16 points in 42 games after amassing 40 points (16G/24A) in 79 games played the season before.

Greaves spent most of the 2024 season in the AHL, going 30-12-4 with a. 2.93 GAA and .910 SV%. He also impressed during a nine-game stint with the Blue Jackets, where he was 3-6-0 with a 3.49 GAA and .908 SV%. Greaves should open the 2024-25 season in the AHL.

Christiansen spent most of the 2024 season in the AHL, but did appear in 12 games with the Blue Jackets, tallying two assists. During his time in Cleveland (AHL), the 24-year-old blueliner had 13 goals and 33 assists (46 points) in 62 games. He'll likely start 2024-25 in Cleveland.

After three successful seasons in Cleveland (AHL), Columbus has signed Cole Clayton to a one-year, entry-level contract on Monday. The 24-year-old joined Cleveland as an undrafted free agent in 2021-22 and had five goals and 20 points in 59 games with Cleveland in 2023-24.