Columbus Blue Jackets

COLUMBUS — The Blue Jackets continued securing key pieces of their young core Saturday, signing forward Cole Sillinger to a three-year, $13.875 million contract extension worth an average annual value of $4.625 million. The deal keeps the 23-year-old in Columbus through the 2028-29 season and avoids a scheduled salary arbitration hearing.

Originally selected 12th overall by the Blue Jackets in the 2021 NHL Draft, Sillinger has developed into one of the club's most dependable two-way forwards. Last season, he set career highs in assists (25), games played (81) and tied his career best with 33 points while finishing among the team's leaders in hits.

"Cole is a hard-working, reliable two-way forward who plays the game the right way, has outstanding character and continues to grow and improve," President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Don Waddell said in a statement. "He has played a lot of games in this league at a very young age, and we are excited about his future and his contributions to our organization."

Sillinger has already appeared in 367 NHL games despite being just 23 years old, recording 51 goals and 89 assists while establishing himself as a physical, reliable presence capable of playing in a variety of situations. His durability and steady development have made him an important part of Columbus' long-term plans.

The extension also continues a productive offseason for the Blue Jackets. After signing goaltender Jet Greaves to a new contract earlier in the week, Columbus has now locked up another cornerstone player as Don Waddell continues shaping a roster he believes can return the franchise to playoff contention. With Sillinger under contract for three more seasons, the Blue Jackets retain another young building block as they continue investing in their future.

COLUMBUS — The Blue Jackets made another investment in their future Thursday, signing goaltender Jet Greaves to a three-year, $15 million contract that keeps the 25-year-old in Columbus through the 2028-29 season.

The agreement avoids a scheduled salary arbitration hearing and rewards Greaves after the best season of his young NHL career. He finished the 2025-26 campaign with a 26-19-9 record, a 2.60 goals-against average, a .908 save percentage and two shutouts in 55 appearances. His 26 victories made him just the fifth goaltender in franchise history to win at least 25 games in a season.

"Jet is a high-character, talented and athletic goaltender who has become an important part of our hockey club," President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Don Waddell said in a statement announcing the signing.

Greaves' path to becoming Columbus' No. 1 goaltender has been anything but conventional. After joining the organization as an undrafted free agent, he steadily worked his way through the Blue Jackets' system before earning a full-time NHL role. His emergence gave Columbus stability in net and positioned him as one of the club's young cornerstones moving forward.

The extension also provides clarity at the game's most important position. With Greaves under contract and top prospect Sergei Ivanov expected to arrive next season, the Blue Jackets appear well positioned in goal for years to come. Rather than searching for answers between the pipes, Columbus can now focus on continuing to build the roster around one of its most promising young players.

COLUMBUS — The Columbus Blue Jackets have secured their top international goaltending prospect, signing 22-year-old Sergei Ivanov to a two-year, entry-level contract.

The six-foot Russian netminder was originally selected by Columbus in the fifth round of the 2022 NHL Draft with the 138th overall pick. Ivanov has spent the last four seasons developing in Russia's premier professional ranks.

Despite signing the entry-level pact, North American fans will have to wait one more season to see him live. Ivanov is expected to spend the upcoming campaign in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) with SKA St. Petersburg before his contract slides and officially brings him to Columbus for the 2027–28 season.

Last season, Ivanov excelled in the KHL, appearing in 29 games for SKA St. Petersburg while posting a stellar .928 save percentage and a 2.50 goals-against average. Over a 108-game KHL career split between multiple programs, he has maintained a highly efficient .923 career save percentage.

While the Blue Jackets' front office waits to transition their prized goalie to American ice, his eventual arrival will heavily bolster a rising goaltending pipeline. Ivanov’s agility and elite positional play position him as a core piece capable of helping return Columbus to the playoffs and, just maybe, Stanley Cup contention.

COLUMBUS — The Columbus Blue Jackets are continuing to remake their roster for the 2026–27 season as President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Don Waddell announced today that the club is bringing back bruising defenseman Erik Gudbranson.

This is Gudbranson’s second stint with Columbus having originally signed with the Blue Jackets in 2022 on a four year deal.

The Blue Jackets hope they will get a healthy version of Gudbranson, unlike the last two years he wore the Blue Jackets’ colors when he had several injuries to derail those seasons.

If he stays healthy, however, the 6'5", 225lb veteran will bring a physical presence to a younger, skill-oriented defensive depth chart.

"He finished the season strong, and he's been in the gym every day," said Waddell. ""We have a lot of puck-movers (on defense), but he is our physicality on the blue line."

Terms of the deal are for one year at a cap hit of 1.75 million.

COLUMBUS — The Blue Jackets added another veteran presence to their roster Tuesday, signing forward Ryan Lomberg to a two-year contract worth $2.6 million, or $1.3 million annually.

Lomberg arrives in Columbus after spending the past season with the Calgary Flames, but he is perhaps best known for his role on the Florida Panthers' 2024 Stanley Cup championship team. While his offensive numbers won't grab headlines, the 31-year-old has built a reputation as one of the NHL's most energetic and physical forwards.

In 394 career NHL games with the Flames and Panthers, Lomberg has totaled 35 goals and 72 points while delivering more than 800 hits. His relentless forechecking, willingness to finish checks and ability to kill penalties have made him a valuable depth player throughout his career.

"We're very pleased to add Ryan Lomberg to the Blue Jackets family," President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Don Waddell said in a statement. "He is a high-energy player who is an excellent skater, plays with tenacity and his experience and character will be a great addition to our team."

Lomberg's signing continues Waddell's effort to add veteran leadership to a young Blue Jackets roster. Columbus narrowly missed the playoffs last season, and several of the club's offseason additions have come with significant postseason experience, including players who have won the Stanley Cup.

Although Lomberg is unlikely to be counted on for top-line scoring, his physical style and championship experience should make him a valuable addition to the Blue Jackets' bottom six as Columbus looks to take the next step during the 2026-27 season.

COLUMBUS — Reports of a fractured relationship between superstar defenseman Zach Werenski and the Columbus Blue Jackets have been greatly exaggerated.

In joint statements released on Wednesday, Blue Jackets President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Don Waddell and Werenski officially put a week of intense trade rumors to rest, reaffirming their shared commitment to building a championship contender in Columbus.

“Don and I have had very open and honest dialogue since the season ended,” Werenski said. “Ideally, this wouldn’t have become such a public thing, but that is the world we live in now, and everything got blown out of proportion in my opinion. I want to win, and I want to do that in Columbus.”

The resolution is a huge victory for the franchise. It seemed unfathomable that the Blue Jackets could realistically compete for a postseason spot without their franchise cornerstone. Werenski is fresh off a career-best campaign where he captured the Norris Trophy as the NHL's best defender—cementing his status as an elite team asset to build around, rather than trade away.

However, Waddell's comments revealed that there was tangible fire behind the trade rumor smoke.

“Earlier this spring, Zach and I met and talked about his future with the Blue Jackets beyond his current contract, and he indicated that he wasn’t sure what the future would hold with regards to staying with the club or possibly moving on,” Waddell disclosed.

Waddell explained that the two agreed that if a viable trade materialized, the front office would present it to Werenski for evaluation. “We found something that would work for the club and took it to Zach. After some time and discussions with his family, Zach informed us that he didn’t want to leave Columbus.”

With the air cleared, the focus shifts entirely back to on-ice expectations.

“We have the best fans in the NHL,” Werenski added. “I love my teammates and coaches, and I’m looking forward to doing everything I can to get us back in the playoffs to compete for a Stanley Cup. Don and I are completely aligned on that and are excited about what’s to come with our team.”

COLUMBUS — President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Don Waddell added organizational depth to the Columbus Blue Jackets as the club announced the official signings of veteran goaltender Pheonix Copley and energetic forward Riley Bezeau to separate one-year contracts for the upcoming 2026–27 campaign.

Copley, 34, joins the Blue Jackets with 78 games of NHL experience split across stints with the Los Angeles Kings, Washington Capitals, and St. Louis Blues. He has a career NHL record of 44-17-8 alongside a 2.85 goals-against average and a .898 save percentage. Copley’s most notable stretch came during the 2022–23 campaign with Los Angeles, where he engineered a stellar 24-6-3 record.

While the veteran goaltender’s peak statistical years may be behind him, his addition infuses critical stability and veteran insight into the organizational depth chart.

"Pheonix is a proven NHL goaltender who brings a strong work ethic, valuable experience and dependable depth to our organization," Waddell stated. "He is a great fit for our club, and we're pleased to welcome him to the Blue Jackets."

At the opposite end of the career longevity spectrum, the Blue Jackets locked down forward Riley Bezeau on a one-year, two-way contract. Bezeau has refined his physical edge across 131 career American Hockey League games with the Cleveland Monsters and Charlotte Checkers. Over his AHL tenure, the rugged forward has logged 15 goals, 12 assists, and a notable 244 penalty minutes.

"Riley is a physical and hard-working forward that competes every shift," Waddell remarked. "He has earned his opportunity and we look forward to see his further growth in the Blue Jackets organization."

While neither player is the flashiest of signings, both are solid organizational depth pieces as Don Waddell and the Blue Jackets brass continue to remake the roster.

COLUMBUS — A day after selecting Oscar Hemming with the 14th overall pick, the Columbus Blue Jackets entered Day 2 of the 2026 NHL Draft focused on rounding out their rookie class in rounds three through seven.

With the 94th pick, the Blue Jackets selected center Alessandro Di Iorio. The 6-foot-1, 194-pound Canadian registered 31 points (12 goals, 19 assists) last season with the Sarnia Sting of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL).

Following a flurry of trades that saw Columbus swap draft assets with both the Washington Capitals and the Minnesota Wild, management finally settled on Ohio State commit Evan Jardine with the 121st overall pick in the fourth round. Jardine, a 6-foot forward out of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, posted a 61-point campaign (27 goals, 34 assists) with the USHL's Youngstown Phantoms last season.

Twenty-one picks later, the Blue Jackets addressed their goaltending depth by selecting Parker Snell from the Edmonton Oil Kings of the Western Hockey League (WHL). Snell put up a 21-9-1 record last season alongside a .895 save percentage and a 2.74 goals-against average.

At pick No. 182, Columbus added Finnish forward Anttoni Uronen. Uronen split time between Finland’s U18 national team and Liiga’s HIFK program, where he notched two goals and eight assists. Immediately after selecting Uronen, the Blue Jackets used the 185th pick on defenseman Jonas Woo. Woo exploded for 86 points (29 goals, 57 assists) with the WHL’s Medicine Hat Tigers and is committed to Arizona State University. It should be noted that both Uronen and Woo wore the ‘A’ for their respective teams.

Wrapping up their draft weekend, Columbus selected Filip Novak with the 206th overall pick in the seventh round. Novak spent last season with HC Sparta Praha U20, recording 35 points on 11 goals and 24 assists.

COLUMBUS — A day after trading for a big-bodied winger, the Columbus Blue Jackets selected another on Friday night in the first round of the 2026 NHL Draft.

General Manager Don Waddell and the Blue Jackets brass picked left winger Oscar Hemming out of Boston College with the 14th overall pick, reportedly after failing to find a suitable trade partner to move back in the draft. Coming in at 6-foot-4 and 200 pounds, Hemming's physical frame is a near carbon copy of newly acquired winger Valeri Nichushkin, who only bests Hemming by about 10 pounds. Clearly, these are the prototypical wingers Waddell values.

Hemming recorded one goal and seven assists for eight points in 19 games last season for the Eagles. His collegiate playing time was limited because he joined the team mid-season following an international contract dispute that was no fault of his own. The 17-year-old Finnish forward will return to Boston College this fall.

COLUMBUS — The Columbus Blue Jackets have made a major pre-draft splash, acquiring 31-year-old winger Valeri Nichushkin from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for three draft picks.

Heading back to Colorado is a 2026 second-round pick (43rd overall, originally belonging to St. Louis), alongside a 2027 third-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick.

Blue Jackets President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Don Waddell praised the veteran forward's aggressive, complete game.

"Valeri is a big, strong forward who skates exceptionally well, can score goals, win puck battles and doesn’t shy away from playing in the hard areas," said Waddell. "He is an accomplished two-way player who competes at a high level, and we are very excited to welcome him to the Blue Jackets family."

The 6-foot-4 power forward is coming off a season where he tallied 49 points (17 goals, 32 assists) in 72 games. Over his 11-year NHL career with Dallas and Colorado, Nichushkin has registered 357 career points and proven to be a clutch performer with 24 career game-winning goals. He was also a pivotal component of the Avalanche's 2022 Stanley Cup championship roster.

The trade acts as a significant cap-clearing maneuver for the Avalanche, who shed Nichushkin’s $6.125 million average annual value (AAV) over the next 4 seasons. For Columbus, the deal represents a high-reward, high-risk calculation. While Nichushkin brings top-six scoring and size, his availability has been a concern in recent years, including run-ins with the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program.