Break time is over for the Blue Jackets.
After getting two weeks off during the NHL’s pause for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, the Blue Jackets returned from their midseason respite to start an in-season training camp with a spirited practice Feb. 18 at the Ice Haus.
More: 5 ways Rick Bowness changed the Columbus Blue Jackets’ playoff hopes
Now, they’ll get a week of work before jumping back into a playoff race that left off with them four points out of a postseason spot. They had climbed back into things with a seven-game winning streak and an 11-1-0 stretch.
First up are games Feb. 26 at the Boston Bruins and Feb. 28 against the New York Islanders, who hold the playoff spots within closest reach for the Blue Jackets (29-20-7).
“It’s been way too long without playoff hockey here,” Blue Jackets captain Boone Jenner said. “We want this group here to taste that, so right now it’s about the process of putting in the work to get to that point.”
After that, it’s 17 games in March followed by seven games over 14 days in April. Throw in some difficult decisions about pending free agents before the March 6 trade deadline and there should be quite a finish in store for Columbus.
“We want to do it, and myself – being part of a couple playoff runs here – I know what it’s like, and it’s been way too long without playoff hockey here,” Blue Jackets captain Boone Jenner said. “We want this group here to taste that, so right now it’s about the process of putting in the work to get to that point.”
Jenner, 32, is one of Columbus’ pending free agents. Erik Gudbranson, a defenseman, is another, along with forwards Charlie Coyle, Mason Marchment and Danton Heinen. Defenseman Brendan Smith, who is recovering from knee surgery, is also without a contract beyond this season.
1 / 0
See highlights of Columbus Blue Jackets vs Chicago Blackhawks NHL game
Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Jet Greaves (73) takes the ice during warm ups prior to the NHL hockey game against the Chicago Blackhawks at Nationwide Arena on Feb. 4, 2026.
It would be surprising if Blue Jackets president/general manager Don Waddell breaks up the veteran core of a team that dragged its way back into the playoff conversation in the Eastern Conference, but the Jackets’ five games before the deadline could prompt a shakeup if they don’t go well.
That’s why the plan is to treat the next week like a midseason training camp and come out of the break focused.
“Columbus was only two points out of the playoffs last year, right?” Coyle said. “So, we have to make sure we’re ready right out of the gate. We have to be the most prepared team and make sure we’re totally focused and ready to go, because it’s going to be a sprint and every game matters, especially for us.”
The Jackets’ first skate back was designed to get their legs, lungs and pulses racing. Skating without defenseman Zach Werenski (Olympics), goalie Elvis Merzlikins (Olympics), right wing Kirill Marchenko (lower-body injury) and center Sean Monahan (illness), the Blue Jackets went through up-tempo drills for an hour.
Columbus Blue Jackets head coach Rick Bowness motions from the bench during the second period of the NHL hockey game against the Chicago Blackhawks at Nationwide Arena on Feb. 4, 2026.
After another skate Feb. 19 in which Monahan returned, the team will take Feb. 20 off before turning up the heat even more Feb. 21-22 while new coach Rick Bowness installs more of his own systems and defensive structure. Bowness, who replaced Dean Evason as coach Jan. 12, spent much of his break near Fort Lauderdale, Florida, reviewing the 11 games he’s coached. Despite the Jackets winning 10 of them, there are issues to address.
“We’re still not where I want us to be,” Bowness said. “It’s nice that we’re winning, but there are still things that I see that we’re inconsistent at. … But that’s human nature. You don’t flip a switch and make those changes. It takes time and patience, and we don’t have a lot of either right now.”
Neither Bowness nor Waddell has committed to Bowness staying beyond this season, so there’s a sense of urgency attached to each game. That’s on top of the built-in motivation for most players on the roster after coming up just shy of the playoffs.
The Jackets’ winning streak going into this break was similar to their six-game streak at the end of last season, but this time they can still secure a playoff spot.
“We’ve got tons of time to ramp it up and get back to where we were,” Marchment said. “The first two or three games, it’s always about who’s more dialed in that decides who wins. We just have to get ourselves ready.”
Blue Jackets reporter Brian Hedger can be reached at bhedger@dispatch.com and @BrianHedger.bsky.social
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Blue Jackets return to practice focused on playoff chase