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.
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.
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.
Minnesota continued their depth signings on Tuesday by bringing in Cleveland's (AHL) captain last season Brendan Gaunce to a two-year, two-way contract. The 30-year-old has appeared in 177 career NHL games since 2015-16 and has 13 goals and 28 points during that span. In 2023-24 he spent 24 games with Columbus (4 Pts) and the remainder of the season with Cleveland (AHL) where he had 19 goals and 39 points in 46 games played.
Cleveland (AHL) kept some of its depth on Monday as Columbus re-signed Owen Sillenger to a one-year, two-way contract. The 26-year-old son of Mike Sillinger has yet to make his NHL debut in any of his three AHL seasons but had 11 goals and 40 points in 69 games played with Cleveland in 2023-24.
Vegas built on their overall depth on Monday as they signed 29-year-old Zach Aston-Reese to a one-year, two-way contract. The travelling forward will join his fifth team in eight NHL seasons after only appearing in three games for Detroit in 2023-24.
Columbus made their big splash on Monday by signing 29-year-old Sean Monahan to a five-year deal worth $27.5 million ($5.5M AAV). The 11-year-old veteran is joining his fourth NHL team in Columbus after putting up his highest point production (59 Pts) since 2018-19 with both Montreal and Winnipeg in 2023-24.
Lundstrom had five goals and 11 points in 46 games played in 2023-24 and has earned himself a one-year, $1.5 million contract extension with Anaheim. the 24-year-old was the Ducks' 2018 1st-round pick (23rd overall) and had 31 goals and 69 points in 258 games played across six seasons with Anaheim.
Columbus made their first re-signing of the offseason on Friday as they signed Yegor Chinakhov to a two-year, $4.2 million contract extension ($2,100,000 AAV). The 23-year-old took a massive step forward in 2023-24, with 16 goals, 29 points and 110 SOG in 53 games played.
Pinelli was the 114th overall pick of the Blue Jackets in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. The 19-year-old forward had an impressive season with the Ottawa 67's (OHL), scoring 82 points (48G / 34A) in 68 games.
Fedotov was the 188th overall pick of the Flyers in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. The 27-year-old netminder made his NHL debut late in the 2023-24 season, posting a 4.95 GAA and .811 SV% across three appearances (0-1-1).
Fasching played 14:18 time-on-ice in their 3-1 loss on Saturday in game one against the Carolina Hurricanes and will be a healthy scratch in game two. The 28-year-old Fasching played 45 games with the Islanders this season, scoring 14 points (4G / 10A).
With the Red Wings season now concluded, Aston-Reese has been reassigned to the Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL). Aston-Reese played three games with the Red Wings this season but spent most of the 2023-24 campaign in the AHL, scoring 29 points (14G / 15A) in 59 games for Grand Rapids.
Freshly off of clinching a ticket to the playoffs, the Islanders will rest notable players Mathew Barzal, Hudson Fasching, and Pierre Engvall in their final game of the season. The 28-year-old Fasching ends the 2023-24 campaign with 14 points (4G / 10A) in 45 games.
Voronkov will not play on Tuesday due to an illness and will be replaced by Luca Del Bel Belluz. The 23-year-old Voronkov has 34 points (18G / 16A) in 75 games this season.
Del Bel Belluz was the 44th overall pick of the Blue Jackets in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. The 20-year-old has scored 30 points (9G / 21A) in 55 games with the Cleveland Monsters (AHL) this season.
