The Columbus Blue Jackets have signed right wing Riley Bezeau to a one-year, two-way National Hockey League/American Hockey League contract for the 2026-27 season, club President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Don Waddell announced today.
“Riley is a physical and hard-working forward that competes every shift,” said Waddell. “He has earned his opportunity and we look forward to see his further growth in the Blue Jackets organization.”
Bezeau, 24, has registered 15 goals and 12 assists for 27 points with 244 penalty minutes in 131 career AHL games with the Cleveland Monsters and Charlotte Checkers since making his professional debut in 2022-23. Originally undrafted, he set AHL career highs with Charlotte during his rookie campaign, notching 5-3-8 and 84 PIM in 51 outings. He has added four goals in 15 career Calder Cup Playoff games.
The 6-0, 187-pound forward tied his single-season career high in goals this past season with Cleveland, notching 5-2-7 with 74 PIM in 24 games played, ranking third-T on the team in penalty minutes. He also led the Monsters in the 2026 Calder Cup Playoffs with 39 PIM in eight games.
A native of Mansfield, Massachussetts, Bezeau played junior hockey for the Saint John Seadogs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League from 2019-22, collecting 17-21-38 with 105 PIM in 93 career games. Serving as an alternate captain in 2021-22, he set QMJHL career highs with 11-16-27 and 83 PIM in 56 contests and helped the club win the Canadian Hockey League’s Memorial Cup championship in 2022 with 2-2-4 in five playoff games.
