Mateychuk is expected to miss at least the first week of training camp with a groin injury, but the Blue Jackets haven't provided a firm timeline on when they expect him to begin practicing. With Mateychuk banged up, Brenden Smith, who is in camp on a PTO, was getting a look alongside Erik Gudbranson on Thursday.
Pyyhtia will return for a fourth season in Columbus after signing a one-year, two-way contract extension on Wednesday. The 23-year-old left-winger was Columbus's 2020 4th-round pick (114th overall) and appeared in 47 games with the Blue Jackets in 2024-25, picking up career highs with four goals, seven points and 32 SOG. He is expected to play a depth role for the Blue Jackets for the upcoming season.
Lundestrom was a first-round pick of the Anaheim Ducks in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. The 25-year-old forward spent the first seven seasons of his NHL career with the Anaheim Ducks and will have a change of scenery in 2025-26, joining the Columbus Blue Jackets on a two-year contract worth $1.3 million. He has 84 points (35G / 49A) in 337 career games.
Jaros has played 94 career NHL games but spent the previous four seasons playing in Europe in the KHL. The 29-year-old defenseman was a fifth-round pick of the Ottawa Senators in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft and returns to North America on a two-way, one-year deal with the Blue Jackets.
Garland has been the definition of consistency since joining the Canucks in 2021-22, finishing each of his four seasons with the team between the 46 to 52 points. The 29-year-old forward finished tied for second on the team with 50 points (19G / 31A) in 81 games last season.
With the selection of free-agent defensemen dwindling, the Blue Jackets acted quickly and signed Provorov to a massive seven-year extension worth $8.5 million AAV. The 28-year-old Provorov was excellent in 2024-25, his second season with the Blue Jackets, averaging 23:21 of time on ice, scoring 33 points (7G, 26A) in 82 games. He ranked in the top 30 amongst all defensemen last season with 30 even-strength points.
Lorentz matched a career-high 19 points (8G / 11A) playing 80 games in his first season with the Maple Leafs and has signed a three-year contract extension worth $1.35M AAV. The 29-year-old was a seventh-round pick in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft and averaged 10:33 time-on-ice last season.
Toronto can take a key item off their off-season "to-do" list after signing restricted free agent Matthew Knies to a six-year, $46.5 million contract extension ($7.75 million AAV). The 22-year-old left-winger took a massive step forward in 2024-25, occupying Toronto's top-six throughout the season while putting up 29 goals, 58 points and a +7 plus/minus in 78 games played.
