TEAM EDITORIAL

The Columbus Blue Jackets enter the 2026 offseason with a roster that looks noticeably different after a flurry of summer moves, but the team’s biggest storyline is still whether its young core can keep growing quickly enough to support a competitive push. The front office added Valeri Nichushkin to give the top six more size and scoring, while also bringing in Ryan Lomberg and experienced depth in goal with Pheonix Copley. At the same time, the club let several familiar names walk, most notably captain Boone Jenner and winger Mason Marchment, leaving a leadership and production gap that will have to be absorbed by the current group.

That current group remains centered on Zach Werenski, Adam Fantilli, Kirill Marchenko, Cole Sillinger, Kent Johnson, and Dmitri Voronkov, with Sean Monahan and Conor Garland adding veteran stability. The goaltending picture is steadier than it looked earlier in the summer now that the team has Jet Greaves and Elvis Merzlikins in place, and Copley gives the organization more insurance. There is still some uncertainty around key contract and long-term planning decisions, especially with Werenski’s future a constant talking point. The Blue Jackets will spend the rest of the offseason trying to turn this reshaped roster into something more balanced before their preseason opener at home against Detroit on September 21.