As the calendar turns from one year to the next, it's a suitable time to take stock and reflect on the year that was, while also looking ahead to what is to come. 2025 has been a mixed bag for the Columbus Blue Jackets. On the one hand, they overachieved expectations and came out of nowhere only to barely miss the playoffs in the spring. But as the calendar flips to 2026, the team finds itself in last place in the Eastern Conference, yet with positive momentum and only a few games out of a playoff spot.
Here are three storylines to keep an eye on in 2026.
WADDELL CONTINUES OVERHAUL
General Manager Don Waddell has not been afraid to make moves to address the roster. However, he has not yet been able to add a true difference-maker to his forward group. In adding Charlie Coyle, Miles Wood, and Mason Marchment, he has prioritized an archetype of player that is difficult to play against and possesses a signature trait (size, speed, responsible defensive play, etc). It makes sense when watching the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Those three players are the exact type of player - experienced, hard-nosed - who can excel.
Waddell has been willing to move on from some of former GM Jarmo Kekalainen’s notable/top draft picks, namely Yegor Chinakhov and David Jiricek, as well as players who were either streaky, injury-prone, or smaller (Alexandre Texier, Patrik Laine, Gavin Brindley). It’s also become clear that another one of Kekalainen’s picks, Kent Johnson, is not currently a stylistic fit for this organization. Is he a long-term fit for this organization?
WANTED: A BACKUP GOALIE
Jet Greaves is the guy. He played both legs of the most recent back-to-back, which is made more notable by the fact that the team didn’t even leave for Ottawa until a few hours before gametime. It’s his net. Meanwhile, Elvis Merzlikins has struggled mightily after a decently solid start to his season. He has a league-worst 4.04 goals against average and is in the bottom 10 in save percentage. Of 62 qualifying goalies (those who have played 10+ games this year), he is ranked 54th in goals saved above expected per 60 minutes, per MoneyPuck.com. In other words, pick your metric; he’s been subpar at best, outright bad at worst.
Right now, Ivan Fedotov and his $2M+ salary are buried in Cleveland. One can't help but wonder if things continue this way, if the team doesn't send Merzlikins to Cleveland for a de facto/internal trade. That's an expensive mistake to admit. But, isn't it time?
LOOKING FOR SCORING PUNCH
Zach Werenski is tied for the team lead in goals with Kirill Marchenko, with 14 apiece. That ranks T-49th in the NHL as of 12/30. The ‘by committee’ approach worked well last year when players like Sean Monahan and Kent Johnson were dangerous on a nightly basis. But that hasn’t been the case this season, and the club sits in 20th place in the league with a 2.95 goals/game rate (3.26 in 2024-25).
Couple that with a surplus of middle (or even bottom) six talents – Cole Sillinger, Mathieu Olivier, Boone Jenner, and the aforementioned Coyle, Wood, and Marchment (to say nothing of true bottom-six/fringe AHL players like Zach Ashton-Reese, Isac Lundestrom, Brendan Gaunce, and Danton Heinen) - and it’s become clear that this team lacks the elite scoring punch that is necessary to truly contend.
On many nights, Marchenko is the guy. On others, it’s Adam Fantilli or Dimitri Voronkov. But this roster is clearly devoid of first-line level scoring talent. There’s no quick fix in sight, either. Perhaps Fantilli takes another second-half step, as he did last season. But, unless there is significant internal growth, it's hard to be truly optimistic that the team can graduate from pretender to contender.
