The Blue Jackets’ approach going into Friday’s 3 p.m. NHL trade deadline is to work on the “edges” of the market to bolster a stretch run.
One of those edges involves the league’s 24-hour waivers process, which Blue Jackets president of hockey operations/general manager Don Waddell tapped Thursday to claim veteran depth forward Christian Fischer, 27, from the Detroit Red Wings.
Advertisement
More: Columbus Blue Jackets working the ‘edges’ of NHL trade market with deadline looming
“Christian Fischer brings additional size, versatility and energy to our forward group,” Waddell said in a statement announcing the move. “He’s played in over 500 NHL games, possesses great character and will fit in very well with our team and how we play.”
Detroit Red Wings right wing Christian Fischer (36) puts on maize and blue skate protectors before practice at Ohio Stadium in preparation for the NHL Stadium Series game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025.
Fischer, 27, will join the Blue Jackets after their return from a road game Thursday against the Florida Panthers and could make his debut against the New York Rangers on Sunday at Madison Square Garden. Fischer is listed at 6 feet 2, 212 pounds and has played 522 NHL games between the Red Wings and former Arizona Coyotes, who selected him in the second round (32nd overall) of the 2015 draft.
Advertisement
He’s a pending unrestricted free agent with a contract that pays $1.125 million this season. The Blue Jackets are only the hook to pay a prorated portion of that salary for the rest of the season. Fischer also just faced the Blue Jackets last Saturday night in the 2025 NHL Stadium Series matchup at Ohio Stadium, skating 5:09 on 10 shifts in a game won by Justin Danforth’s late goal in the third period.
Fischer only logged one shift that lasted seven seconds in the third period of the outdoor game against the Blue Jackets, watching almost the entire final period as Red Wings coach Todd McClellan shortened the bench while chasing the lead. Fischer, however, has slumped most of the season and leaves Detroit after adding just one goal, six assists and seven points in 45 games.
He should be motivated, however, and will add experienced “grit” to a forward group that lost Kevin Labanc for the season to shoulder surgery in February. Rookie forward Mikael Pyyhtia, who has struggled to contribute offensively in multiple NHL stints, was re-assigned to AHL Cleveland to clear a roster spot for Fischer.
This is the third time Waddell has used waivers to supplement the Blue Jackets’ roster during his first year in charge of the team’s hockey side. Zach Aston-Reese, a versatile forward who’s now on the third line, was claimed in the preseason from the Vegas Golden Knights and top-pairing defenseman Dante Fabbro was claimed in November from the Nashville Predators.
Advertisement
Fischer is expected to join the mix filling out center Sean Kuraly’s fourth line, which most recently has filled the two wing spots using a combination of James van Riemsdyk at left wing, Joe Labate and Pyyhtia. Van Riemsdyk has skated on the left, Kuraly in the middle and the other two toggled in and out of coach Dean Evason’s lineup on the right ever since the NHL returned from its break for the 4 Nations Face-Off.
Against the Panthers on Thursday, Van Riemsdyk moved up to play on the second line with Boone Jenner and Kent Johnson, while Yegor Chinakhov skated with Kuraly and Labate in just his second game back from a 39-game absence due to a back injury.
Columbus Blue Jackets center Joseph LaBate (14) celebrates a goal by left wing James van Riemsdyk (21) during the third period of the NHL hockey game against the Dallas Stars at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on Feb. 25, 2025. The Blue Jackets won 6-4.
Labate, who’s listed at 6-5, 225, is a great story as a journeyman who has rekindled his NHL dreams. His five games for the Blue Jackets, however, were his first in the NHL since playing 13 games for the Vancouver Canucks in 2017. Fischer has played the past eight-plus seasons in the NHL and has offensive potential.
Advertisement
Fischer, who’s reached double-digits in goals three times, will most likely start out on Kuraly’s right wing, skating opposite of Van Riemsdyk. That’s an experienced combination for a fourth line that includes size, strength and enough skill across all three spots to be dangerous in the offensive zone.
Get more on the Columbus Blue Jackets with our Cannon Fodder podcast
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Blue Jackets claim Christian Fischer from Detroit Red Wings