Columbus Blue Jackets News

Columbus selected Fantilli with the No.3 overall pick in this year's draft. Fantilli had an outstanding season at the University of Michigan, scoring 30 goals with 35 assists (65 points) in 36 games. He also added five points (2G / 3A) in seven games while representing Canada at the World Juniors. Fantilli is a candidate to make the Blue Jackets out of training camp and could play a huge role in his rookie campaign.

Olivier had five goals, 10 assists, 75 SOG, 81 PIMs and a -20 plus/minus through 65 games played in 2022-23 and has signed a two-year contract extension worth $1.1 Million AAV through the 2024-25 season. The 26-year-old right-winger is about to enter his fifth NHL season and has 22 points (8G/14A) across 114 NHL career games played.

Monahan was only able to play in 25 games in his first season in Montreal in 2022-23 due to a season-ending groin surgery but managed to pick up six goals, 11 assists, 55 SOG, 16 PIMs and a -5 plus/minus and has earned himself a one-year contract extension worth $1.985 million. The 28-year-old centre is entering his 11th NHL season after being the sixth overall draft pick in 2013.

Voronkov was selected in the fourth round of the 2019 NHL draft and has spent the last four seasons in the KHL. During the 2023 season, he registered 31 points (18G / 13A) in 54 games with Kazan Ak-Bars (KHL).

The Devils signed Severson to an eight-year deal worth $50.0 million ($6.25M AAV) and traded him to Columbus for the Flames' third-round pick (No.80 overall) in this year's draft. Severson was set to become a UFA on July 1st and is coming off of a 33-point season (7G / 26A) in 81 games with New Jersey. Over the last two seasons, Severson is tied for 32nd among defensemen in goals (18) and tied for 37th in points (79).

The Devils signed Severson to an eight-year deal and traded him to the Blue Jackets for a 2023 third-round pick. Severson was set to become a UFA on July 1st.

Provorov was dealt to Columbus as part of a three-team blockbuster trade involving Los Angeles and five players and three draft picks. The 26-year-old defensemen had six goals, 21 assists, 115 SOG, 24 PIMs and a -17 plus/minus through 82 games played with Philadelphia in 2022-23. He has 532 career NHL games played, racking up a career high of 41 points (17G/24A) in 2017-18.

Christiansen had four assists, 25 SOG, a -7 plus/minus and four PIMs through 24 games during the 2022-23 season with the Columbus Blue Jackets and has signed a one-way, two year contract through the 2023-24 season. The 23-year-old has 32 career NHL games played and was originally signed as a free agent by the Blue Jackets after he finished junior hockey in Everett (WHL) in 2019-20.

Aston-Reese had a goal, four SOG, and a -2 plus/minus through six games in the playoffs but will be the odd man out of Toronto's lineup for Game 2 vs. Florida on Thursday. Sam Lafferty will replace him on the Maple Leafs' fourth line.

Reese was the odd man out of the Maple Leafs' lineup for the last two games of round one as the team elected to go with seven defensemen but will draw back into Toronto's lineup for Game 1 vs. Florida on Tuesday. The 28-year-old has a goal, three SOG, and a -2 plus/minus through five games so far in the 2022-23 playoffs.

Johnson has yet to suit up in the 2022-23 playoffs but was skating Wednesday in a normal jersey and willplay ahead of Colorado's crucial matchup vs. Seattle. The 36-year-old played in 83 regular season games between Colorado and Chicago, picking up two goals, eight points, 92 SOG, 28 PIMs and a -15 plus/minus.

Johnson has yet to suit up in the 2022-23 playoffs but was skating Wednesday in a normal jersey and will be a game-time decision ahead of Colorado's crucial matchup vs. Seattle. The 36-year-old played in 83 regular season games between Colorado and Chicago, picking up two goals, eight points, 92 SOG, 28 PIMs and a -15 plus/minus.

Johnson missed Game 1 as a late scratch due to an undisclosed injury and is now considered day-to-day for the time being. The 36-year-old was replaced by Erik Johnson in the Avalanche's lineup for Colorado's first game. He had two goals, eight points and a -15 plus/minus through 83 games with Colorado and Chicago this season.

Gillies allowed three goals on 27 shots (.889 SV%) for his first victory of the season in his only start of the season as he beat the Ottawa Senators in his previous start. The 29-year-old has made two appearances for the Blue Jackets this season, with his 1-0-0 record, 4.61 GAA and .846 SV%. He will take on the Buffalo Sabres, who have won four of their last five games and are third in the NHL in goals per game (3.56).

Svozil had 11 goals, 67 assists, 24 PIMs and a +27 plus/minus through 56 games with the Regina Pats (WHL) and will make his NHL debut Thursday vs. Pittsburgh. The 20-year-old was Columbus' 2021 third-round pick (69th overall).

Pyyhtia had three goals in six games with Cleveland (AHL) after coming over from TPS (Liiga) earlier in the season and will make his NHL debut Thursday vs. Pittsburgh. The 21-year-old was Columbus' 2020 fourth-round pick (114th overall).

Knazko had a goal, 20 assists, 17 PIMs and a -13 plus/minus through 49 games this season with Cleveland (AHL) and is expected to make his NHL debut Thursday. The 20-year-old was the Blue Jackets' 2020 third-round pick (78th overall).