COLUMBUS — The Blue Jackets have finalized their 21-man roster for the start of the 2026-27 season, only one day after reshaping the team with their blockbuster trade with Toronto.
The opening roster consists of 13 forwards, six defensemen, and two goaltenders. Newly acquired Matthew Knies and Emil Andrae both made the group after arriving Monday in the deal that sent Kirill Marchenko, Elvis Merzlikins, and Miles Wood to the Maple Leafs.
Knies joins an offense that already includes Adam Fantilli, Kent Johnson, Sean Monahan, Charlie Coyle, Cole Sillinger, Dmitri Voronkov, and Mathieu Olivier. Columbus will also begin the season with several other offseason additions, including Valeri Nichushkin, Conor Garland, and Danton Heinen.
Fantilli remains one of the biggest pieces of the roster after signing a six-year extension last week that keeps him under contract through the 2031-32 season. With Marchenko gone, the Blue Jackets will now have to determine how Knies fits alongside Fantilli and the rest of a forward group that looks much different than it did at the end of last season.
On defense, Zach Werenski remains the centerpiece, joined by Ivan Provorov, Denton Mateychuk, Jake Christiansen, Erik Gudbranson, and Andrae. Damon Severson will begin the season on the injured non-roster list, while Dante Fabbro was placed on injured reserve during the final roster cuts.
The biggest change may be in goal.
Cam Talbot and Jet Greaves will open the season as Columbus’ two goaltenders following the departure of Merzlikins. Talbot signed a one-year contract earlier this month, while Greaves returns after continuing to push for a larger NHL role.
Steven Lorentz, who also came to Columbus in Monday’s trade, is not part of the 21-man opening roster.
There will almost certainly be movement as players return from injuries and the season develops, but this is the group Rick Bowness will begin with as he tries to establish a new identity in Columbus.
The Blue Jackets open the regular season Thursday against Buffalo at Nationwide Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m.
