The Blue Jackets nearly finished their 2024-25 season with a storybook ending in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. 

Needing to win out over six games to stave off elimination, they rattled off six straight victories with a scorching hot rookie in net for the final five, including three shutouts.  

Regardless, the margin between Columbus and the Montreal Canadiens was too big. The upstart Blue Jackets, the NHL’s most improved team with a 23-point gain in the standings from 2023-24, finished two points shy of the playoffs. They went into the offseason focused on qualifying for the postseason in 2025-26, even while knowing their roster would undergo changes. 

And then nothing changed until June 26, when backup goalie Daniil Tarasov was traded to the Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers for a fifth-round draft pick to officially get the Blue Jackets’ roster retooling off the ground.  

A day later, June 27, they acquired forwards Charlie Coyle and Miles Wood from the Colorado Avalanche for prospect Gavin Brindley and two draft picks, and two days after that, following the NHL draft, defenseman Dante Fabbro signed a four-year contract extension June 29 to avoid free agency.  

The job is only half-done, though. 

Don Waddell, in his second season as the Blue Jackets’ president/general manager, still hopes to sign or acquire a top-four defenseman and top-six forward as the NHL’s window for free agency looms at Noon on July 1. 

“Everybody looks at the same list we’re looking at, with all the free agents out there, and it’s not like a plethora of players,” Waddell said. “There’s a lot of players (available), but not a lot of top players. But my job as the general manager is to stay in touch with the people who are part of the process here, and come July 1, if we have needs, we’ll certainly go out and try to address them.” 

Here’s a quick look at the Blue Jackets’ situation before the doors swing open for free agents: 

Blue Jackets free agents who aren’t expected to stay 

After re-signing Fabbro, the Blue Jackets still have eight pending unrestricted free agents. Those most likely to explore the open market for deals elsewhere are forwards James van Riemsdyk, Sean Kuraly, Luke Kunin, Christian Fischer and Kevin Labanc plus depth defenseman Jack Johnson.  

Forward Mikael Pyyhtia and defenseman Jordan Harris, pending restricted free agents, would join that list if the Blue Jackets don’t extend them qualifying offers by 5 p.m. June 30. 

Defenseman Ivan Provorov and forward Justin Danforth are also pending UFAs. Waddell said negotiating with Provorov is a “priority,” while Danforth’s versatility as a right-handed forward who can play center could bump him up the GM’s list of players to retain. 

Columbus’ hopes for free agency, trade market 

Competition on the open market will be heated for all top players available, since the NHL’s skyrocketing salary-cap ceiling has allowed more teams to retain pending UFAs. As Waddell said, there won’t be many impact players available at any position, so those that are will likely command exorbitant salaries. 

Waddell will pay a high price tag for certain players, but don’t expect him to do it just to fill positions.

Some of the top forwards who might be available include Mitch Marner (Toronto Maple Leafs), Nikolaj Ehlers (Winnipeg Jets), Patrick Kane (Detroit Red Wings), Brock Boeser (Vancouver Canucks), Brad Marchand (Florida Panthers) and Mikael Granlund (Dallas Stars). 

Defensive options if Provorov departs include Aaron Ekblad (Florida Panthers), Vladislav Gavrikov (Los Angeles Kings), Dmitry Orlov (Carolina Hurricanes), Brent Burns (Carolina Hurricanes), Cody Ceci (Dallas Stars) and Matt Grzelcyk (Anaheim Ducks). 

The Buffalo Sabres are also listening to offers for Bowen Byrum, a young left-handed defenseman who can play either side. 

Jackets are well positioned for contract offer sheets 

Flush with about $30 million in salary-cap space, the Blue Jackets have an enviable position with contract offer sheets on the RFA market.  

They have a desirable RFA of their own to re-sign with Dmitri Voronkov, but Waddell has the resources to match any offer sheets the Russian power forward might sign with another team. Likewise, they have the money and required draft pick compensation to make a splash by signing an RFA to an offer sheet in the highest salary range (above$11,700,193) and fourth-highest range ($4,680,077 to $7,020,113). 

The highest range requires a team to give up its next four first-round picks as compensation, while the fourth-highest tier requires a team’s first and third picks in 2026. The picks have to be that team’s own, not those acquired from other teams. 

The salary cap rise to $95.5 million will likely hamper offer sheets, but it’s still a tool for GMs to bolster their rosters.  

Blue Jackets reporter Brian Hedger can be reached at bhedger@dispatch.com and @BrianHedger.bsky.social 

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