The season is over, the Columbus Blue Jackets are focusing on next year, and we have a lot of off-season activity to look forward to in the meantime. First, we reflect on the 2023-24 season and what lies ahead for the club in the coming days, weeks, and months. The Blue Jackets coaches and players had their end-of-season media availability last week, and captain Boone Jenner had a lot of interesting things to say. Columbus finished 27-43-12 with 66 points and 29th in the NHL to secure the fourth-best odds of landing the first pick in the upcoming NHL draft lottery. Slightly better than th ..read more

The Columbus Blue Jackets may not be participating in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but that doesn't mean that they aren't paying attention. Whoever becomes the next GM of the club is likely to come from the current 16-team field - though it's possible it could end up being someone like the OHL's Mark Hunter. Regardless, it'll be a person with a history of deep postseason success, regardless of level. Through two days and nights of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, I couldn't help but wonder what tenants and themes would be important for that person to bring to the Blue Jackets. Here are three though ..read more

As one chapter ends, a few others begin. Tuesday night marked game No. 82 for the Columbus Blue Jackets as their regular season came to a close with a 6-3 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. Jeff Rimer called the final game of a 47-year career as a broadcaster, including the last 20 years with the Blue Jackets. Jason Stypinski, assistant equipment manager for the Blue Jackets, worked his last game. And a pair of exciting new players made their NHL debuts on Tuesday night for the Blue Jackets. Rookie laps in the book for Gavin Brindley and Luca Del Bel Belluz #CBJ pic.twitter.com/DkQeyn2kyp — Je ..read more

One game to go before the most important offseason to date gets started for the franchise. The Columbus Blue Jackets play the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday night, and once the final horn signifies the end of the 2023-24 regular season for Columbus, the offseason will be underway. A franchise desperate to get back to the playoffs has a lot of work to do this summer to start down that goal. Looking back at head coach Pascal Vincent's first year in Columbus, things started okay before nine straight November losses all but ended the club's chances of playing meaningful hockey this time of ye ..read more

The Blue Jackets signed Gavin Brindley, the No. 34 overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, to a three-year, entry-level contract beginning this season and expiring after the 2025-26 season. He's expected to make his NHL debut on Tuesday when the Blue Jackets host the Carolina Hurricanes. Because Brindley's entry-level contract begins this season, he is ineligible to play in this year's AHL playoffs. Brindley, the 2023-24 Big Ten Player of the Year and a First-Team All-American, posted 25-28--53 in 40 games in his sophomore season at Michigan that saw the Wolverines lose in the Frozen Four semifina ..read more

Columbus Blue Jackets prospect James Malatesta continued his impressive upward trajectory by scoring his first NHL goal in Saturday night's 6-4 loss to the Nashville Predators.  First goal of the game first @NHL goal for Malatesta! Congrats, #67 many more to come! @Nationwide | #CBJ pic.twitter.com/7t0sOj3Gmk — Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) April 14, 2024 Malatesta, 20, was picked in the fifth round in 2021. In his final season with the Québec Remparts, he was a dominant CHL player, winning both QMJHL playoff and Memorial Cup MVP en route to winning both championships. He turn ..read more

The Blue Jackets scored first but allowed four-straight goals in their 6-4 loss to the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena on Saturday in Nashville.   1 2 3 F BLUE JACKETS 1 1 2 4 NSH PREDATORS 3 3 0 6 1st Period James Malatesta opened the scoring with his first-career NHL goal at 2:04 off a right-circle faceoff where Malatesta picked up the puck, deked around a defender, and fired a wrist shot from the slot past Juuse Saros. RIGHT OFF THE SLOT! Huge congrats to James Malatesta on his first NHL goal!#CBJ pic.twitter.com/qab376jj6U — Bally Sports Columbus (@BallySport ..read more

The Blue Jackets are 26-42-12 as we approach the final two games of the season. Here's another update on their prospects. Note: If a player's name is in italics, that means there has been no change to their stats since last week's update. 2023 Draft Michigan (NCAA) forward Gavin Brindley (34th overall) has posted 25-28--53 in 40 games for the Wolverines. On Thursday, Michigan lost 4-0 to Boston College in the NCAA Frozen Four. On Friday, Brindley was named a first-team All-American.  Wisconsin (NCAA) forward William Whitelaw (66th overall) finished ..read more

There will be playoff hockey in the Blue Jackets organization in 2023-24.  For the first time since 2018-19, the Cleveland Monsters are going to the AHL Playoffs. Through 68 games, the Monsters are 37-23-5-3 and are in second place in the North Division despite losing several key players to the Blue Jackets throughout the season.  #FearTheDepths pic.twitter.com/TOwfQrEWw3 — x - Cleveland Monsters (@monstershockey) April 12, 2024 The Monsters' regular season concludes on Sunday, April 21, five days after the conclusion of the Blue Jackets' season, so any AHL players currently with th ..read more

The Blue Jackets lost to the Panthers 4-0 on Thursday, falling to 26-42-12. The Jackets are locked into 29th place and the fourth-best lottery odds. Matthew Tkachuk opened the scoring for Florida just 47 seconds into the game, and that set the tone for the night.  The Blue Jackets were still within one late in the second period before Evan Rodrigues scored at 17:25 and Sam Reinhart scored at 19:06. Vladimir Tarasenko made it 4-0 at 17:43 of the third to cap off their shutout victory. Here are three things from Thursday's game. Road Losing Streak The Blue Jackets are now 0-9-1 in their las ..read more