Blue Jackets Need to Sign Greaves & Sillinger Long-Term & Avoid Arbitration

The Columbus Blue Jackets are facing a roadblock this summer after failing to come to terms with their three main restricted free agents (RFAs), Adam Fantilli, Cole Sillinger, and Jet Greaves. As of today, the latter two have filed for arbitration, and the team has roughly two weeks to sign a deal before their next contracts are decided by an arbitrator. Fantilli’s negotiations are ongoing, though he can not file for arbitration due to a lack of NHL time, and thus is not safe from an offer sheet unlike the other two.

With Sillinger and Greaves going to arbitration, the Blue Jackets are safe from either one getting an offer sheet, however, they will likely face one of the most chaotic offseasons in franchise history next summer, if and when they have to negotiate new deals for Zach Werenski, Kirill Marchenko, Greaves, Sillinger, and Fantilli. With salary expectations flying out the window following the Philadelphia Flyers’ offer sheet for Anaheim Ducks RFA Leo Carlsson, how much can Sillinger and Greaves expect to receive through arbitration?

This would also mark the first time in franchise history the Blue Jackets would ever have a player go through into salary arbitration. The closest a Blue Jacket ever got was Marc Methot, who filed for arbitration twice, but signed a deal before the hearing both times. The Blue Jackets are hoping for the same events to unfold again.

Sillinger Situation

Sillinger knows how much he is valued by the Blue Jackets and how critical his style of play is to the organization’s identity. However, his numbers do not support an overpay, like $7 million or more per year, despite the high salaries being tossed around this offseason.

The Blue Jackets would likely prefer to be awarded a one-year deal with both, since they would both still be RFAs at the end of it. If they are awarded a two-year contract, Sillinger and Greaves will both be unrestricted free agents next summer. Sillinger would likely be awarded a lower salary than Greaves, and a bridge deal makes more sense for both players, yet as a part of the core they may try to sign both long term.

#CBJ could elect for arbitration on Monday if neither player does. That, too, would eliminate the threat of an offer sheet. However …
If the club elects, the player chooses the term — 1 or 2 years — of the arb finding. A 2-year term would walk both Greaves and Sillinger to UFA. https://t.co/f57kiYNiN9

— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) July 5, 2026

If the Blue Jackets can come to an agreement with Sillinger, and no Blue Jacket has ever actually gone to arbitration before, it will likely come in around or just under $6 million per year in average annual value (AAV), expectations have jumped since Charlie Coyle signed his extension of $6 million AAV for the next six seasons in May.

Through arbitration, Sillinger is likely to get around $4 million for a season or two, according to the projections of AFP Analytics. If the Blue Jackets can reach a long-term extension with him instead, his contract would likely come in around $6 million for five or six years. The term and cap number may be higher for him to sign long-term, but he is a player the Blue Jackets need to lock down.

Greaves Expectations

Greaves performed above expectations last season. He was supposed to split the net with Elvis Merzlikins but pulled away as the clear number one goaltender. As the team stares arbitration in the face, what can he expect to receive on his new deal?

The Blue Jackets have a top prospect who should be ready to come to North America in the next two or three years: 2025 first-round pick Pyotr Andreyanov. Andreyanov has already been compared to Andrei Vasilevskiy and Sergei Bobrovsky, two Vezina Trophy-winning Russian netminders.

Greaves is expected to be the starter next season, but with Andreyanov in the pipeline, does Columbus want to commit to Greaves long term? He should get paid and compensated nicely for right now, but the deal should be a bridge deal to allow Greaves to prove himself.

According to AFP Analytics, Greaves could get $4.3 million for one year in arbitration. If the Blue Jackets decide to offer him a bridge deal to avoid arbitration, I can see the number being closer to $6 million AAV for three or four years. That contract would give the Blue Jackets stability in net now, without putting them in a salary cap bind if Andreyanov is ready to come to Columbus and Greaves faces any sort of regression in play.

The Blue Jackets are likely going to have to wait and see what the Fantilli contract comes out to. They will wait and see what the top line center gets paid before they agree to move forward with their two other RFAs requests for their next contract as well.

Fantilli will force the Blue Jackets into a tough position because although he is not safe from an offer sheet, after the offer sheet Philadelphia Flyers just gave to the Anaheim Ducks, it should be the top priority to get Columbus’ top line center signed. Fantilli could go for a very similar number, although I think he likely settles somewhere in the $10.5 million range instead.

Realistic Expectations for Sillinger and Greaves

The Blue Jackets will do whatever they can to retain all three of their big-name restricted free agents, and I expect management will avoid arbitration and sign Sillinger and Greaves within the next two weeks, continuing negotiations and rewarding their players for being loyal to the organization.

General manager Don Waddell has stated time and again that he has constructed the salary cap so the team is able to match any potential offer sheet that comes its way. They want these back next season, and will make sure they are satisfied with their next contracts.

Not that #CBJ would do this, but because both Sillinger and Greaves elected arbitration, they now have a second buyout window available to them. This would go into effect on the third day after the last settlement is reached and last for 48 hours.

— Mark Scheig (@mark_scheig) July 5, 2026

Through the arbitration process these players can also sign with the Blue Jackets at any point and not wait for the conclusion of the hearing if there is a number both the player and team agree on. The team wants to be extremely careful with the cost and term of these contracts to ensure they are in line with their vision, and not just with what’s happening with the rest of the league.

Waddell has made it crystal clear there is no ultimatum. They will all be Blue Jackets in 2026-27. This is just another process they have to go through to get to the right number. Arbitration hearings start on July 20, and decisions will be rendered by August 3.