Blue Jackets Facing Culture Crisis as Stars Prepare to Leave

While the Vegas Golden Knights have made their nine seasons in the league look easy, franchises like the Columbus Blue Jackets continue to face an uphill battle after 25 years.

The weekend’s NHL Draft has already been overshadowed by reports that winger Kirill Marchenko and superstar defenseman Zach Werenski likely won’t re-sign with the club when their contracts expire. For many, this comes down to a lack of winning culture within the organization.

Superstars on the Outs

Werenski is coming off his first Norris Trophy win as the league’s best defenseman and is clearly the best player the organization has ever had. Marchenko is coming off a 27-goal, 67-point season and seems to be on the cusp of becoming a superstar.

Reports have surfaced indicating that neither has plans to re-sign with Columbus after their contracts expire. Marchenko is entering the final year of a very favorable three-year deal while Werenski has two seasons remaining on his contract. Losing both players could be disastrous for the club.

Winning Matters and the Blue Jackets Haven’t Done Much

The Buffalo Sabres missed the playoffs for 14 consecutive seasons as many of their superstars requested trades out of town. But this past season – one in which they won the Atlantic Division and their first playoff series in almost two decades – was enough to have their name removed from some players’ no-trade lists.

The Blue Jackets have never won their division – they haven’t even finished second in the Metro. They have made the playoffs just six times in 25 seasons, and the last time was 2019-20. They have just one playoff round win, an all-time upset of the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2019.

The Sabres have one of the most revered fan bases in the sport, but that didn’t prevent players from demanding to be moved. Winning helped change their fortunes, and expect them to be in play for players who would not have given them a second thought previously. The Blue Jackets have to start winning if they want to keep their stars.

No Easy Way Out for the Blue Jackets

The Blue Jackets also have to become more effective at hitting on draft picks. They simply haven’t hit on enough high-end draft talent to put themselves in a position to win. They could start by getting a massive haul for Werenski. In exchange for the reigning Norris Trophy-winner, Columbus should be able to get the right pieces to help make the franchise better long-term, even if it doesn’t fully mitigate the sting of seeing the best player in franchise history move on.

The organization also needs to make sure their young players, both on the current roster and in the pipeline, are developed properly. Adam Fantilli needs to become a legitimate superstar. Kent Johnson needs to elevate his game. The early returns on Cayden Lindstrom (No.4 overall in 2024) aren’t promising. These players need to make an impact now, while Jackson Smith and Oscar Hemming will need to make an impact in the near future.

Winning Is the Only Solution

The Blue Jackets have historically had trouble keeping star players, and it’s a concern. They have found solid pieces through the draft, but not the superstar they need, and the draft is the only place to find that kind of talent. Johnny Gaudreau might have been that superstar, but tragedy destroyed that chance. He was also an anomaly, since most high-end talent aren’t actively choosing to go to Columbus.

The unfortunate reality for the Blue Jackets is that there is no quick fix. Players take time to develop, and creating a winning culture needs talent. The future is paved with uncertainty, and the past has proven that it is difficult to win in Columbus. Unfortunately, it is the only thing that will change the culture for the better.