The Columbus Blue Jackets are writing one of hockey’s most inspiring stories this season, and they might not be done yet.
Despite facing tragedy and injuries that would derail most teams, they’re just one point away from a playoff spot heading into the 4 Nations break. That’s pretty remarkable for a team that lost star player Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew in a tragic accident involving an alleged drunk driver before the season even started.
They’ve done it without their captain too. Boone Jenner hasn’t played a single regular-season game after hurting his shoulder in practice.
The team’s sitting at 26-22-8, good for fourth in the Metropolitan Division. That’s got general manager Don Waddell thinking about adding players, not selling them off.
Money isn’t an issue – they’ve got about $85.7 million in cap space to work with at the deadline.
What makes their success even more impressive? Key players like Yegor Chinakhov, Erik Gudbranson, Kirill Marchenko and Sean Monahan have all missed big chunks of time.
The team’s got plenty of draft picks to work with, including two first-rounders in both 2025 and 2026. They’ve also got a stack of mid-round picks they could use as trade bait.
But don’t expect them to move Ivan Provorov. The defenseman’s name came up in trade talks early on, but he’s interested in staying in Columbus long-term. It would take a massive offer to change that now.
The Blue Jackets are protecting their young talent too. Most of their prospects are already in the NHL and, besides star defenseman Zach Werenski, they’re the ones leading the charge while the veterans heal up.
What do they need? Another solid forward would help. Jenner’s coming back soon – he’s been skating for weeks – but they could use more depth up front. They might go after someone like Brock Nelson or Brandon Tanev.
Their biggest weakness? Goaltending. Elvis Merzļikins has been okay (.895 save percentage), but backup Daniil Tarasov has struggled badly. They might look at veterans like James Reimer or VÃtek Vanecek for help.
The trade deadline’s about a month away, and Columbus has made it clear: They’re not just trying to survive anymore – they’re trying to win.
