COLUMBUS — A new season begins Thursday night at Nationwide Arena, and there may be more intrigue surrounding the Blue Jackets than there has been in quite some time.

Columbus opens its 26th NHL season against the Buffalo Sabres at 7 p.m., beginning a year in which the organization has made it clear who it believes should lead the franchise forward.

Adam Fantilli is now at the center of that future after signing a six-year, $82.5 million contract that will keep him in Columbus through the 2031-32 season. Zach Werenski did not sign a new deal this offseason, but the reigning Norris Trophy winner publicly reaffirmed his commitment to Columbus and expressed his desire to remain with the organization long term once he becomes eligible to sign another extension.

Meanwhile, the roster around them has changed considerably. Matthew Knies and Emil Andrae are among the most notable new faces following the blockbuster trade with Toronto, while Valeri Nichushkin, Conor Garland, and Danton Heinen also join a Columbus team looking to return to the postseason.

Opening night will not provide an easy introduction.

Buffalo finished 50-23-9 last season, won the Atlantic Division, and reached the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Tage Thompson remains one of the league’s most dangerous scorers, while Rasmus Dahlin gives the Sabres one of hockey’s premier defensemen.

Players to Watch

• Adam Fantilli — If it was not already obvious, Fantilli is now one of the centerpieces of the Columbus Blue Jackets. The 21-year-old is coming off a career-best season in which he recorded 24 goals and 35 assists for 59 points in 82 games. Columbus then backed up its belief in him with a six-year, $82.5 million contract. Fantilli missed most of training camp and the entire preseason while negotiations played out, so it will be worth watching how quickly he settles into game speed. The contract question is gone. Now comes the next step in becoming the player Columbus believes it has built around.

• Zach Werenski — Fantilli signed the new contract, while Werenski made his commitment to Columbus clear in another way. After offseason trade speculation, Werenski said Columbus is where he wants to be and expressed hope that another long-term agreement can eventually be reached. He enters the season as the reigning Norris Trophy winner after recording 22 goals and 59 assists for 81 points in 75 games. Werenski remains the engine of the Blue Jackets’ defense and one of the most important players on the roster. Against a Buffalo team with plenty of offensive firepower, Columbus will need him at both ends of the ice.

• Jet Greaves — Greaves is the projected starter for Thursday’s opener after establishing himself as Columbus’ No. 1 goaltender last season. He finished 26-19-9 with a 2.60 goals-against average, .908 save percentage, and two shutouts in 55 appearances before signing a three-year, $15 million contract over the summer. The Blue Jackets also added veteran Cam Talbot, but Greaves enters the season with an opportunity to prove that last year was the beginning of something rather than a one-year breakthrough. Buffalo should provide an immediate test.

Game Information

Notes

• Columbus begins its 26th NHL season and the first season of the league’s new 84-game schedule.
• Fantilli signed a six-year, $82.5 million contract through the 2031-32 season after recording a career-high 59 points last year.
• Werenski won the 2025-26 Norris Trophy after finishing with 22 goals, 59 assists, and 81 points in 75 games.
• Greaves went 26-19-9 with a 2.60 goals-against average and .908 save percentage last season.
• Buffalo finished 50-23-9, won the Atlantic Division, and reached the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
• Columbus will remain home Saturday night to face the Utah Mammoth.

Prediction

There are easier ways to begin a season than facing a 50-win team.

Buffalo has scoring throughout its lineup, a dangerous group of defensemen led by Dahlin, and enough experience to punish Columbus if the Blue Jackets are sloppy with the puck. Greaves, assuming he gets the start, could see plenty of work.

But there should also be considerable energy inside Nationwide Arena.

Fantilli finally has his contract settled. Werenski has made clear that he wants to remain part of what Columbus is building, and several new players will make their Blue Jackets debuts. There is enough offensive talent on this roster to make Thursday night interesting.

Opening nights tend to be a little chaotic, and this one feels like it could turn into a back-and-forth game. Columbus gets enough from its top players and starts the new season with two points.

Final Score: Blue Jackets 4, Sabres 3