Columbus Blue Jackets News, Trades & Rumors

Overview | Schedule | Roster | Stats | Salary Cap
Prospects | History | Management | Goaltending | Season Preview

The Columbus Blue Jackets joined the NHL in 2000 as an expansion franchise alongside the Minnesota Wild. Their first game was a 5-3 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on Oct. 7, 2000. For the first 12 years of its history, the team played in the Western Conference before switching to the Eastern Conference for the 2013-14 season. The franchise struggled during the early part of its history and didn’t reach the postseason until 2008-09. In total, the team has made six postseason appearances and has advanced past the first round once. 

Blue Jackets Sign Top Prospect Gavin Brindley to Entry-Level Deal
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Ahead of their final game in the regular season, the Columbus Blue Jackets have announced they’ve signed one of their top prospects, Gavin Brindley to a three-year entry-level contract. Brindley was drafted in the second round of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, 34th overall, out of the University of Michigan with the Wolverines. The 5-foot-9 forward is lauded as a high-motor player who is a strong forechecker and a solid two-way player. In his draft year, he was teammates with fellow Blue Jackets youngster Adam Fantilli. The two became “best buddies” and were clearly excited to be drafted to the…

Blue Jackets Should Seriously Consider Merzlikins Buyout
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We are just around the corner from the final game of the 2023-24 season for the Columbus Blue Jackets. There’s been a lot of drama this season from the Mike Babcock debacle to the yo-yoing of David Jiricek between the NHL and the American Hockey League (AHL), the firing of Jarmo Kekelainen, and the trade request by starting goalie Elvis Merzlikins. We’ll linger on Merzlikins for this piece. While it’s a bit murky if a trade request was ever actually issued or if it was all just a miscommunication that was lost in translation, the tension between Merzlikins and management…

Pros & Cons of Retaining Pascal Vincent as Blue Jackets’ Coach
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The Columbus Blue Jackets are done to their final game of the regular season this coming Tuesday against the Carolina Hurricanes. Once the buzzer sounds, the real work will begin in making significant changes to the team. Change is not only expected, but expected to be many. The Blue Jackets are last in the Eastern Conference by 10 points and knew early on that the playoffs were not going to be a thing for them. We know that a new general manager will be coming in. With that comes the possible domino effect. The coaching staff, the roster and the…

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Projected Lineups for the Blue Jackets vs. Lightning – 04/09/24
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The Columbus Blue Jackets take on the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena tonight. Here are the projected/expected lineups, sourced from NHL.com staff writers, independent correspondents and others. BLUE JACKETS (26-40-12) at LIGHTNING (43-27-7) 7 p.m. ET; BSSUN, BSOH Blue Jackets projected lineup Scratched: Carson Meyer Injured: Adam Fantilli (calf laceration), (lower body), Yegor Chinakhov…

 

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Blue Jackets FAQ

What year were the Columbus Blue Jackets founded?

The Columbus Blue Jackets joined the NHL in 2000 as an expansion franchise alongside the Minnesota Wild.

When did the Columbus Blue Jackets play their first game?

The Columbus Blue Jackets’ first game was a 5-3 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on Oct. 7, 2000.

Who is the current head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets?

The Columbus Blue Jackets’ current head coach is Pascal Vincent.