Columbus, spurred on by their young stars and starts-to-be, came within a hair’s breadth of making the post-season. After going 27-43-12 in 2023-24, finishing 29th in the league, the Blue Jackets improved by 23 points, falling short of the post-season by just two points. The future certainly looks bright in Ohio, though work remains to be done by GM Don Waddell.

The Blue Jackets’ offense went from 2.82 to 3.26 GF/GP while the defense also showed improvement as the GA/GP fell from 3.63 to 3.26, will the net of zero goals helping the team move substantially up in the standings, Columbus’ power play helped lead the way offensively, as the team went from a 15.1 to 19.5 success rate on the man-advantage. However, even with some progress in their own end. The Blue Jackets still require significant remediation n that regard.

Advertisement

While the Blue Jackets are blessed with a plethora of youth up front, a veteran helped lead the way. Sean Monahan was brought in to play with Johnny Gaudreau and assumed the mantle of leadership when Gaudreau was tragically killed. Monahan, who missed 28 games due to injury, which contributed Columbus missing the playoffs, led the Blue Jackets with 1.06 points per game in 2024-25, generating 19 goals and 38 assists across 54 appearances. His presence helped bring the best out of Kirill Marchenko, whose production rose substantially from 23 markers and 19 apples to 31 and 43, respectively, last season.

Continuing the youth movement up front are Dmitri Voronkov, Adam Fantilli and Kent Johnson, the team’s likely second line. Voronkov increased his production to 23 goals, 47 points, 55 PIM and 71 hits across 73 appearances. After making some noise that he wanted to go elsewhere, Voronkov inked a two-year, $8.35 million contract to stay in Columbus. Flanking him on the wing is Johnson, taken fifth overall in 2021. Johnson’s 57 points in 68 games exceeded his production from the prior two years combined. A 70-point season certainly appears attainable. Centering the duo is Fantilli, the third pick in the 2023 draft. He recovered from a sluggish start by generating 24 tallies and 15 assists in 44 outings to end the regular season, upping his totals to 31 and 23, respectively. Fantilli should take another step forward, finishing with 60-70 points and 100+ hits.

Charlie Coyle and Miles Wood were brought in for Colorado and Isaac Lundestrom signed to bolster the bottom-six, costing Columbus Gavin Brindley, a 2027 second-round pick and a 2025 third-round selection. Coyle could help Yegor Chinakhov take another step forward, Chinakhov sat out 13 matchups as a healthy scratch, which likely led to his trade request this offseason. That request remains unfulfilled. Cole Sillinger has finished between 31-33 points in three of his past four seasons, a number he likely will hit again while being one of the better defensive forwards.

The fourth line will be an energy line, with Wood and Mathieu Olivier, who should combine for 400 or so hits, bookended by Lundestrom, who signed with Columbus this offseason after spending the first seven years with the Ducks.

Advertisement

Don Waddell, Columbus’ GM, went searching in free agency and the trade market to improve the blue line. The Blue Jackets cuts their goals-against last year but need to to take another step forward to contend. Waddell finished second in the Noah Dobson sweepstakes, contributing to the seven-year, $59.5 million contract granted to Ivan Provorov. The number certainly brought some sticker shock, but Provorov has proven to be a steady blueliner.

Zach Werenski had a career-best season, setting new highs almost across the board. He put himself in the Norris Trophy discussion by scoring 23 goals and 82 points, skating 26:45 a contest while also dishing out 131 hits. He benefitted substantially from the addition of Dante Fabbro, claimed off waivers very early last season from Nashville. Fabbro played like the blueliner the Preds thought they were getting when they took him 17 overall in 2016. He parlayed his fine season into a four-year, $16.5 million contract extension this offseason.

Provorov will either pair with Damon Severson, who is in year three of the eight-year, $50 million contract he signed with the Devils in June of 2023, or Denton Mateychuk, the Blue Jackets first round pick in 2022. Mateychuk should break camp with the parent club and take a major step forward this season. Gudbranson, who missed most of the 2024-25 season because of a shoulder injury, slots onto the third pair, where his defensive capabilities were missed.

Prediction:

Columbus was one of the more improved teams in the league and offensively, should do major damage. The top-six forwards are solid while the third line has a good chance to contribute offensively. As the defense and goalies go, so goes the Blue Jackets.

Advertisement

If Mateychuk can take a material step forward and Fabbro shows that last year was no fluke, the blue line should be improved. One of Elvis Merzlikins or Jet Greaves need to lock down the net for Columbus to really contend for a playoff spot.

Look for the Blue Jackets to remain in contention into late-March before falling just short.

All stats courtesy of naturalstattrick.com, moneypuck.com, hockeyviz.com, allthreezones.com, hockey-reference.com, eliteprospects.com unless otherwise noted.