The Columbus Blue Jackets will not name a captain for the 2026-27 season, head coach Rick Bowness announced Wednesday.

Instead the Blue Jackets are expected to see as many as six players share alternate captain duties this season.

Veteran defenceman Zach Werenski will permanently wear an “A” this season, while Charlie Coyle and Mathieu Olivier will wear the letter in home games this month, while Sean Monahan and Cole Silinger will wear share duties on the road. They will then rotate with Coyle and Olivier getting road games in November.

Bowness added that forward Adam Fantilli is also expected to see the “A” on his jersey at some point this season.

The Blue Jackets saw former captain Boone Jenner depart in free agency as he signed a four-year, $23 million contract with the Washington Capitals.

Jenner served as Blue Jackets captain for five seasons, taking over from Nick Foligno in 2021.

Werenski was considered the most likely candidate to fill Jenner’s role, but he is coming off a summer of speculation regarding his future with the team.

The reigning Norris Trophy winner informed the Blue Jackets after last off-season that he was unsure about re-signing when his contract expires in 2028.

TSN Hockey Insiders Darren Dreger and Pierre LeBrun reported on June 30 that the Blue Jackets had a deal in place to send Werenski to the Dallas Stars, with speculation indicating that a package including defenceman Thomas Harley would go the other way.

Werenski, who has a full no-movement clause, ultimately stayed put. After a few days of drama, the team and player said released statements that they were moving forward together.

“It was tough for about a week there,” Werenski told reporters in August, explaining that there was some miscommunication between him, Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell and his agent Judd Moldaver. “I felt like it was kind of misconstrued a little bit on how I felt.

“In saying that, people have jobs to do, and, you know, they’re getting their information from somewhere, but it definitely wasn’t from me. The only thing I can go off is mine and Don’s conversations, and we’ve had great conversations since right when the season ended. I don’t know what my agent and Don are talking about. Well, I do, to an extent. But certain things started to swirl and kind of snowballed, and it escalated to a spot that neither me nor Don intended. At least that’s how I feel about it.”

The Blue Jackets will open their season on Thursday against the Buffalo Sabres.