Blue Jackets season preview: Seeking to change culture, end playoff drought

The 2026-27 NHL regular season begins Sept. 29. Leading up to the season opener, NHL.com is identifying six things to watch for each team. Today, the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Last season: 40-30-12, fifth in Metropolitan Division; missed Stanley Cup Playoffs

Coach: Rick Bowness (second season)

Biggest challenge

Changing the culture. Bowness identified that as priority No. 1 for the Blue Jackets on April 14, when he spoke to the media after Columbus lost nine of its last 11 games to miss the Stanley Cup Playoffs for a sixth consecutive season. He noted that if he returns as coach, he is going to try to do just that. "Losing is not important enough," Bowness said. "It doesn't bother them." He was officially brought back two days later, and now it's time to do what he said must be done. The Blue Jackets made some moves in the offseason to set a culture change in motion, most notably not re-signing former captain Boone Jenner, who went to the Washington Capitals as an unrestricted free agent. Forward Mason Marchment signed with the San Jose Sharks as a UFA. The Blue Jackets brought in two recent Stanley Cup champions, acquiring forward Valeri Nichushkin from the Colorado Avalanche and signing forward Ryan Lomberg as a UFA. Nichushkin won the Cup with Colorado in 2022. Lomberg did it with the Florida Panthers in 2023. Most notably, though, Zach Werenski was not traded, though the defenseman’s future in Columbus, with two years remaining on his contract, is tied to the Blue Jackets changing the culture and becoming a playoff contender. But they still need to re-sign restricted free agent center Adam Fantilli to feel whole.

How they make playoffs

A strong start is paramount. It's easy to target the Blue Jackets' poor finish last season, going 2-8-1 in their last 11 games, as the reason they missed the playoffs by seven points. But a stronger first half of the season wouldn't have made it necessary for them to go on the tear they went on after changing coaches from Dean Evason to Bowness on Jan. 12. They went 19-4-4 in their first 27 games under Bowness after struggling to a 19-19-7 record under Evason. But they couldn't stay hot and eventually missed the playoffs. A stronger start would make things a lot easier, but that comes with better special teams. The Blue Jackets were 22nd on the power play (18.9 percent) and 28th on the penalty kill (76.0 percent) last season. Jet Greaves will also have to reprise his role as a No. 1 goalie. Greaves earned the job last year, when he played 55 games and went 26-19-9 with a 2.60 goals-against average and .908 save percentage. He previously had 21 games of NHL experience. Elvis Merzlikins is out indefinitely following shoulder surgery, so the backup to Greaves right now appears to be Pheonix Copley.

Most intriguing addition

Nichushkin brings size (6-foot-4, 210 pounds), speed, power, playmaking, a two-way presence and experience to the Blue Jackets' top six. It's a change for him after being in Colorado for the past seven seasons, but his role should also expand in Columbus. He should fit prominently in their top-six forward group and play on both the power play and penalty kill. He had 49 points (17 goals, 32 assists) in 72 games last season. Columbus needs Nichushkin to stay available. He's a bona fide 20-goal scorer who, in his new role with the Blue Jackets, could shoot for 30.

Biggest potential surprise

Cole Sillinger having a breakout offensive year is more of a need for the Blue Jackets, but based on his history, it would be somewhat surprising too. Sillinger, the No. 12 pick in the 2021 NHL Draft, is 23 years old and starting a three-year, $13.875 million contract ($4.625 million average annual value) that he signed on July 25. He's entering his sixth full NHL season. He came into the League with so much promise and potential, but his 33 points in 81 games last season tied an NHL high that he set two seasons ago, when he also had 33 points but in 66 games. He scored 16 goals as a rookie and hasn't scored more than 13 since. He had eight last season. The Blue Jackets need Sillinger to deliver in a much bigger way. They signed him with the hope that he would make a bigger impact. 

Ready to contribute

Luca Del Bel Belluz has played 30 games with the Blue Jackets over the past three seasons, but he hasn't carved out enough of a role to stick. The 22-year-old forward has 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in his three short NHL stints, including one assist in 14 games last season. But he might be at that breaking point between nothing left to prove in the AHL and everything still to prove in the NHL. Del Bel Belluz, the No. 44 pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, had 58 points (22 goals, 36 assists) in 55 AHL games with Cleveland last season. He has 111 points (49 goals, 62 assists) in 116 AHL games. There's an opportunity for him to earn a full-time NHL role this season, especially with forward Isac Lundestrom (Achilles) sidelined for the start of the season.

Fantasy sleeper with EDGE stats

Valeri Nichushkin, F: He was acquired from the Colorado Avalanche on June 25 after having 49 points (17 goals, 32 assists) in 72 regular-season games last season and four points (two goals, two assists) in 12 Stanley Cup Playoff games. The 31-year-old is a three-time 20-goal scorer and won the Stanley Cup with the Avalanche in 2022 (had 15 points, including nine goals in 20 games that postseason). Nichushkin has bounce-back potential with more ice time (17:44 per game last season; his lowest since 2020-21) and could be a difference-maker on Columbus’ top power play; his career highs in both goals (28) and power-play goals (16) came in only 54 games during the 2023-24 season. Per NHL EDGE stats, Nichushkin scored 11 of his 17 goals last season from high-danger zones and ranked in the 95th percentile among forwards in both max skating speed (23.50 mph) and long-range shots on goal (26). The power forward could also round out the top line with Kirill Marchenko (27 goals) and Fantilli (24 goals), Columbus’ two leading goal-scorers from last season, making Nichushkin worth prioritizing in late rounds (fantasy average draft position: 142.9). -- Troy Perlowitz

Projected lineup

Valeri Nichushkin -- Adam Fantilli -- Kirill Marchenko

Kent Johnson -- Sean Monahan -- Conor Garland

Cole Sillinger -- Charlie Coyle -- Mathieu Olivier

Dmitri Voronkov -- Luca Del Bel Belluz -- Ryan Lomberg

Zach Werenski -- Damon Severson

Denton Mateychuk -- Ivan Provorov

Erik Gudbranson -- Dante Fabbro

Jet Greaves

Pheonix Copley