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Columbus Blue Jackets

Everything on KK Hockey about the Blue Jackets, including beat items kept off the front page. All teams →

Blue Jackets sign Carson Soucy to PTO

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from Daily Faceoff (Frank Seravalli),

Soucy was an unrestricted free agent after the conclusion of his three-year contract with a $3.25 million cap hit. With the PTO, Soucy will be able to participate in training camp and preseason action with the Blue Jackets, and if his play is good enough, he can sign with Columbus if they offer him a contract. However, they don’t have Soucy’s signing rights, so if any team is impressed with his play, he can sign a contract with them as well.

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Former Red Wings Goalie Heading to Columbus

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from Detroit Hockey Now,

The post Former Red Wings Goalie Heading to Columbus appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now . A second UFA who played for the Detroit Red Wings last season has found NHL employment. Published reports indicate that […] The post Former Red Wings Goalie Heading to Columbus appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now .

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Report: Cam Talbot to sign one-year contract with Blue Jackets

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from Daily Faceoff (Frank Seravalli),

According to a report from Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic, the Blue Jackets are on the verge of signing veteran Cam Talbot to a one-year contract with a salary cap hit of $950,000.

A reliable backup with extensive experience as a journeyman late in his career, Talbot is coming off a two-year stint with the Detroit Red Wings in which he served as the primary goalie in 2024-25 before backing up John Gibson last year.

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20/20: Stars beat Jackets, Penguins down Red Wings and more notes

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from Shap Shots (Sean Shapiro),

Today we are combining the 20/20 from two games at the prospect tournament, where the Dallas Stars beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-1 and the Pittsburgh Penguins prospects beat the Detroit Red Wings 4-3.

1 . I’m going to open this 20/20 with some notes from a conversation with Stars general manager Jim Nill, who took time to chat with Robert Tiffin and I during the second intermission of the first game, since some of it seems news worthy.

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Blue Jackets make changes to scouting department

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from Daily Faceoff (Frank Seravalli),

Ahead of their 27th season is franchise history, the Columbus Blue Jackets are shaking up their scouting department. Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell announced on Thursday that the organization is promoting Trevor Timmins to director of amateur scouting, while Ville Siren will become the team’s director of European scouting. Timmins, 58, joined Columbus as their assistant director of amateur scouting for the 2022-23 season. Before that, he spent 17-plus seasons with the Montreal Canadiens organization, including the last four-plus seasons as their assistant general manager under former general manager Marc Bergevin. He had also acted as Montreal’s director of player development, director of amateur scouting, and director of player personnel. Before joining the Canadiens, he spent 10 years working in the Ottawa Senators organization. Siren, 62, had been the Blue Jackets’ director of amateur scouting for the last 13 …

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Blue Jackets’ Elvis Merzlikins undergoes shoulder surgery, no timeline on return

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from Sportsnet,

The Columbus Blue Jackets will begin the 2026-27 season without their veteran goaltender.

Elvis Merzlikins underwent surgery on Monday to repair an injured shoulder, the Blue Jackets announced on Thursday.

“Elvis informed us a few weeks ago that he was experiencing some discomfort in his shoulder during his off-season workouts,” general manager Don Waddell said in a statement released by the team. “Following an MRI, it was determined that surgery was the best course of action.  He’ll be evaluated again in a few weeks at which time we’ll have a clearer idea on when he will be back on the ice.”

The Latvian appeared in 30 games for the Blue Jackets last season, posting a .883 save percentage and 3.40 goals-against average as he shifted into a backup role from the starting position.

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Blue Jackets’ Zach Werenski doubles down on desire to stay in Columbus

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from Sportsnet,

The Blue Jackets star defenceman and Norris Trophy winner doubled down on his desire to win with the club on Thursday after a summer that included a vetoed trade and questions about his future with the franchise.

"I think everyone knows how much I love this city and how much it means to me, and I would have no issues being here for an even longer time (than his current contract)," We're ski, who is due to become a free agent after the 2027-28 season and can sign an extension as early as July 1, told reporters .

“I want to see us in the playoffs and I want to see us make progress, and I feel like we’ve done that. “Winning solves everything, and that’s where we have to get to as a club. We have to raise our standards …”

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More on this

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Blue Jackets, Sillinger avoid arbitration with three-year deal, $4.625M AAV

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from Sportsnet,

The two sides agreed to a three-year deal with an average annual value of $4.625 million to avoid arbitration, per Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman on Friday.

Sillinger, 23, has spent all five of his NHL seasons in Columbus since the Blue Jackets drafted him 12th overall in 2021.

The Columbus native is coming off a career-best 81 games, tying his NHL high in points with 33 (eight goals, 25 assists) for a second consecutive season. Silinger has been a staple for his hometown team, having played 64 or more games in each of his five seasons.

Sillinger finished seventh on the roster for total points, while his 112 hits and 31 takeaways each ranked fourth, respectively.

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Blue Jackets, Greaves $4.7M apart in arbitration

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from Sportsnet,

The Columbus Blue Jackets and Jet Greaves appear to have a significant difference in how they view a goaltender's value

With the two sides set to go to an arbitration hearing on Thursday, Columbus has filed at $2.8 million for Greaves' salary in 2026-27, while the 25-year-old netminder filed at $7.5 million, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported Tuesday.

If a long-term deal isn't reached before Thursday's hearing, arbitrators would have to choose between the two numbers filed — there cannot be a settlement.

Greaves is coming off a strong season between the pipes for the Blue Jackets, in which he recorded a 26-19-9 record with two shutouts, a 2.60 goals-against average and .908 save percentage.

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Blue Jackets GM says Marchenko will be on team to start season

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from Sportsnet,

Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell said that the 25-year-old forward is sticking around in Columbus.

"I've had discussions with his agent, which we won't discuss right now, but Marchenko is going to be a Blue Jacket when the season starts," Waddell said at his free agency press conference on Thursday.

Marchenko's contract runs through the end of the 2026-27 season, and he is expected to be one of the top restricted free agents next summer. He put up 27 goals and 40 assists this past season, coming off an even stronger 74-point 2024-25 campaign (31g, 43a).

Waddell also spoke to the Zach Werenski situation after the defenceman announced his decision to stay in Columbus following trade speculation.

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Capitals sign longtime Blue Jackets forward Boone Jenner (4 x $5.75M)

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from Sportsnet,

For the first time in his career, Boone Jenner will not be wearing a Columbus Blue Jackets jersey next season.

The Washington Capitals signed Jenner to a four-year, $23-million deal on Wednesday, the team announced .

Jenner, 32, was the Blue Jackets’ captain for the past five seasons and has spent his entire 13-year career in Columbus, becoming the franchise's all-time leader in games played.

Over 67 games last season, the Dorchester, Ont., native recorded 13 goals and 25 assists.

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Avs trade Nichushkin to Columbus

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As an Avs fan, I strongly dislike this. There truly is no player like him in the world when he is on his game (like 9 goals in his first 8 playoff games in 2025 before getting pulled back into the program). His combination of offensive skill, defensive ability, tenacity, reach, cannot be matched. This is a huge loss even if he hadn't been himself as of late. I am sure the reliability issues factored into the return. Hopefully these salary dumps mean Cale’s extension comes right on July 1 (when eligible). -NHLJeff

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