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Metropolitan Division · Est. 2000

Columbus Blue Jackets

2025–26 · 40–30–12 · 92 pts · #5 Metropolitan
GM: Don Waddell HC: Rick Bowness
Team xGF%
49.9
% · all situations · HighDanger xG
18th in NHL
Identity
High-event chaos
Talented but missing pieces
Contention window
Purgatory
Never bad enough, never good enough
Coach
Bowness
Veteran hand on young core
Avg age · forwards
27.7
computed from roster
Team Identity
High-event chaos · Stuck in purgatory

Columbus remains stuck in the NHL's purgatory: never bad enough to bottom out and land a franchise-changer, never good enough to break through. Even a career year could not lift them out of it. Zach Werenski won the Norris Trophy with 81 points from the blue line, and a young core of Kirill Marchenko (67 points) and 21-year-old Adam Fantilli (24 goals as the number one center) keeps the future interesting, but it still was not enough. The Blue Jackets held a playoff spot for much of the year before a late-season collapse knocked them out, the kind of finish that has defined this franchise for a decade. Jet Greaves gave them real goaltending with a .908 save percentage and the high-event style generates chances in bunches, but they bleed too much defensively and the roster is still missing the pieces that separate average from good. Until the front office finds them, Columbus looks destined to keep hovering in the middle.

2025-26 team profile · ranked out of 32

49.9%
xGF%
18th of 32
-0.7
xG diff
18th of 32
3.12
xGF / game
17th of 32
3.13
xGA / game
18th of 32
-10
Finishing
24th of 32
+6
Goaltending
12th of 32
3,588
Unblocked att. for
12th of 32
3,645
Unblocked att. against
25th of 32
All situations, not 5-on-5. Our own xG model.

Player stats · 2025-26

Forwards14
Defense7

Goaltending

Current lineup, last season's numbers, so some were earned with another club. A dash means no games played. At the opener both notes stop applying: the numbers become this team, this season.

Cap situation · 2026-27

Cap committed
$90.35M
of $104.0M
Cap space
$13.65M
Players signed
23/23
roster full
Pending RFAs
1
team-controlled
Cap utilization87%

Lines · cap by group

Cap & contracts FAQ · 2026-27

How much salary cap space do the Columbus Blue Jackets have in 2026-27?

The Columbus Blue Jackets have $13.65M in salary cap space for the 2026-27 season, with $90.35M committed against the $104.0M cap (87% utilization).

Who is the highest-paid player on the Columbus Blue Jackets?

Zach Werenski is the Columbus Blue Jackets' highest-paid player with a $9.58M cap hit, signed through 2028.

How many players do the Columbus Blue Jackets have signed for 2026-27?

The Columbus Blue Jackets have 23 players signed toward the 23-man active roster (roster full).

Who are the Columbus Blue Jackets' highest-paid players?

The Columbus Blue Jackets' top cap hits for 2026-27 are Zach Werenski ($9.58M), Ivan Provorov ($8.5M), Damon Severson ($6.25M).

Which Columbus Blue Jackets players are pending restricted free agents?

The Columbus Blue Jackets have 1 pending restricted free agent: Adam Fantilli.

5-year points history

Regular-season points, last five seasons.

Organization strength

Current NHL lineup only, weighted by NHL Equivalency. Bar shows team vs league average (marker at center).
Forwards · 14 36.4
top Kirill Marchenko (72.3) league 43.0 NHLe pts/82
Defense · 7 30.8
top Zach Werenski (88.6) league 27.5 NHLe pts/82
Goalies · 2 of 3 .895
top Jet Greaves (0.908) league .895 SV%
Injury report (0)
via CBS Sports
No injuries reported - offseason (updated in September).

Similar historical cores

Closest historical team-seasons by points pace, goals for, and goals against (era-normalized z-score, since 1967–68). Click any card to open a side-by-side compare.

2026 Draft Class

Full board →

2 selections in rounds 1-3. Prospect pages; NHL roster spots come as they sign.

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