Inside look at Columbus Blue Jackets

NHL.com is providing in-depth roster, prospect and fantasy analysis for each of its 32 teams from Aug. 1-Sept. 1. Today, the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Rick Bowness made a promise on April 14.

Bowness, who replaced Dean Evason as coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets on Jan. 12, wasn't sure he'd be retained after the Blue Jackets lost nine of their final 11 games (2-8-1), finished fifth in the Metropolitan Division and missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs for a sixth straight season.

“If I’m back, I’m changing this culture,” Bowness said. “Losing is not important enough. It doesn’t bother them."

Bowness was re-hired two days later. Now, it's time to make good on his word.

“Did I push it? Yeah, I pushed that envelope a little bit,” Bowness said. “But that’s who I am."

A culture shift requires change. Notably, forwards Boone Jenner and Mason Marchment departed as free agents.

Jenner, the Columbus captain the past five seasons, signed a four-year, $23 million contract ($5.75 million average annual value) with the Washington Capitals on July 1. He had 38 points (13 goals, 25 assists) in 67 games last season and is the Blue Jackets’ all-time leader in games played (808) and ranks third in goals (212), assists (209) and points (421).

Also on July 1, Marchment signed a five-year, $33.75 million contract ($6.75 million AAV) with the San Jose Sharks. He had 32 points (15 goals, 17 assists) in 39 games for Columbus after being acquired in a trade from the Seattle Kraken on Dec. 19.

But defenseman Zach Werenski remains.

Werenski, who has two seasons remaining on a six-year, $57.5 million contract ($9.58 million AAV), met with general manager Don Waddell early in the offseason after winning the Norris Trophy as the NHL's top defenseman with 81 points (22 goals, 59 assists) in 75 games. Werenski had expressed uncertainty about his future beyond his current contract but later vetoed a trade that would have sent him to the Dallas Stars.

Then, on the same day Jenner and Marchment signed elsewhere, Werenski released a statement re-affirming his commitment to the Blue Jackets. He is eligible to sign another contract with Columbus on July 1, 2027.

"I love my teammates and coaches and I’m looking forward to doing everything I can to get us back in the playoffs to compete for a Stanley Cup," said Werenski, who is entering his 11th season with Columbus since being selected in the first round (No. 8) of the 2015 NHL Draft. "Don and I are completely aligned on that and are excited about what’s to come with our team."

That shared goal of winning the Stanley Cup will be bolstered by two forwards who have recently hoisted it.

Valeri Nichushkin, who had 49 points (17 goals, 32 assists) in 72 games last season, was acquired in a trade from the Colorado Avalanche on June 25. He won the Stanley Cup with Colorado in 2022.

Ryan Lomberg signed a two-year, $2.6 million contract ($1.3 million AAV) on July 1 after having nine points (four goals, five assists) in 57 games for the Calgary Flames. In 2024, he helped the Florida Panthers win the first of back-to-back championships.

"I've said that once you've won the Cup, and I was fortunate in management (to win it), once you've won it, there's nothing like it," Waddell said. "These players that we've targeted, went after, just happen to have won Cups. So, it's an added bonus to what they bring to the locker room."

Still, wholesale change isn't what the Blue Jackets are chasing.

Goalie Jet Greaves signed a three-year, $15 million contract on July 23 ($5 million AAV) to avoid a salary arbitration hearing after going 26-19-9 with a 2.60 goals-against average and .908 save percentage. Forward Cole Sillinger, who had 33 points (eight goals, 25 assists) in 81 games last season, avoided arbitration by signing a three-year, $13.875 million contract ($4.625 million AAV) on July 25.

Forward Adam Fantilli remains a restricted free agent. Last season, he was third on the Blue Jackets with 59 points (24 goals, 35 assists) in 82 games.

Despite his prior comments, if it was up to Bowness, much of last season's group would be brought back.

“They know me a little bit better now," Bowness said. "They know I yell a lot, they know I talk a lot. But we’re a family. We are. We’re a family here, and families disagree sometimes, but then you love each other and you hug each other, and you move on. That’s what we're going to do. We’re going to be a family and we’re going to keep working and we’re going to keep pushing. ... We’re going to get the job done.”