New: "I get it. I’m not a spring chicken. I’m not a young guy anymore and so people are curious to see if I can still play." #CBJ camp PTO Brendan Smith opened up about his uncertain summer and why he thinks he has a chance to earn a contract. t.co/jBYXdvWIHi

New: 7 Takeaways from #CBJ Media Day. -What a difference a year makes/excitement. -Why Ivan Fedotov? -Injury updates on Denton Mateychuk/Jordan Dumais. -Werenski/Fantilli talk Men's Worlds impact. -Will #CBJ consider the recently acquitted players? t.co/9zIzT0cLcT

New: My Q&A with #CBJ HC Dean Evason. Almost 4,000 words. -Takeaways from losing at Men's Worlds with Team Canada. -Evason/Chinakhov met last week. What was said? -Opening night starting goalie is wide open. -His offseason thoughts. -Much more. t.co/hqf23Y8wCX

New: One year ago today. The day in which the world lost two of its brightest lights. John and Matthew Gaudreau. In the end, the Gaudreau family, #CBJ and others all promised to honor their legacies always. One year later, they all kept their promise. t.co/vWYLrcpPdo

New: "I don’t think I want to stop being here until we can win here and bring a championship to Columbus...I think our fans and the city definitely deserves that." My Q&A with #CBJ captain Boone Jenner. On his future, the Gaudreau's & much more. t.co/eNaXcth3NA

#CBJ has signed former Islander Hudson Fasching to a 1-year, 2-way deal.

New: My Q&A with Don Waddell, Part 2. -Fantilli contract talks not started yet, but they will soon. -Jenner extension? -Chinakhov met with #CBJ, next steps? -Isles wanted Voronkov. Waddell said no. -Much more, including Olivier/Coyle injury updates. t.co/O5rRh2gm1h

#CBJ has one last RFA to sign. That's D Daemon Hunt. GM Don Waddell said "I think it's done. I think we're just waiting for an answer back." Assuming no hiccups, we should be hearing something officially sooner rather than later.

New: Got to spend 30 minutes in GM Don Waddell's office over some Tim Horton's for a wide-ranging Q&A. -How he's spent the summer. -Why staff changes. -First year reflections. -The Gaudreau's. -Columbus Zoo, bucket list item?? -Much more. Here's Part 1: #CBJ

New: With all the questions surrounding #CBJ and their goaltending, one situation might be getting some clarity. The Blue Jackets believe Sergei Ivanov will be ready to come to North America after the 2025-26 season. Ivanov's agent believes it too. Read: t.co/2dLN7iVmwS

News: #CBJ prospect G Pyotr Andreyanov officially signed a 5-year deal with CSKA Moskva today going through the end of the 2029-30 season, the team announced. Note: Don Waddell said there is a potential NHL-out clause after four years.

News: #CBJ has agreed to a 2-year contract with Dmitri Voronkov. AAV is $4.175 million.

Here's our news piece on the Dante Fabbro extension. From waiver claim to top-pairing defenseman, he may go down as one of the best moves in franchise history. #CBJ thehockeywriters.com/blue-jackets...

Good morning. Our draft day episode of Union Junction is out. -Waddell's press conference. -Fabbro/Provorov -Tarasov traded -What could happen with picks 14 & 20. -Your questions, answered. Enjoy. open.spotify.com/episode/1NuV... #CBJ

Two trades so far. Daniil Tarasov to Florida for pick 160 this year. Cameron Butler to Minnesota for Brendan Gaunce. A reunion.

New: Our 2025 #CBJ Draft Guide. Everything you need to be ready for the weekend. -Draft changes. -Waddell's availability today. -Who's in play at picks 14 and 20. -Why trade still seems very likely. -Prospect profiles, mock drafts, much more. Enjoy. thehockeywriters.com/2025-columbu...

It’s now Thursday morning. #CBJ

Couple highlights of #CBJ Development Camp. -Cayden Lindstrom will be there. -University of Delaware assistant coach Melissa Samoskevich, who won a gold medal in 2019 at the World Championships, will serve as a guest coach.

New: With the offseason about to kick into gear, #CBJ is about to be put to the test. Why are the moves they make of utmost importance? While they have a lot going for them and to offer to free agents, they're missing the most importance piece. Winning. t.co/Ly8i2YmPeh

New for The Hockey Writers: Let’s look at who the Toronto Sceptres lost in the expansion draft. #PWHL thehockeywriters.com/sceptres-los...

#CBJ GM Don Waddell will hold his predraft availability Thursday morning at 11:30.

#CBJ fans. 3-part question. Curious for your responses. 1. Assuming the Blue Jackets keep both picks 14 and 20, which prospects do you want them to take? 2. Which one UFA do you hope they sign after 12pm on 7/1? 3. Which realistic trade target do you hope they get?

New: 6 teams eager to make big trades at the 2025 NHL Draft. With just five days left until Round 1, we're getting closer to revealing what's real and what's not. Here are the six teams I think are most eager to make a trade soon and why. t.co/YfbgbOFiag

From earlier today. Wrote about how Mitch Marner’s decision could put some teams in a holding pattern. thehockeywriters.com/mitch-marner...

The #Blackhawks have re-signed forward Ryan Donato. Per Kyle Davidson "Ryan brings energy & competes hard every game which has been a huge asset to our team over the last two seasons. He’s been a crucial part of our offense, & we’re excited for Ryan to continue to make a difference in our lineup."

#CBJ has unveiled their 25th season logo.

Saw a report going around about #CBJ Dante Fabbro making progress on a long-term extension. Fabbro's agent J.P Barry says they are talking but are still in the initial stages and are not close yet. So work to be done but talks are ongoing.

New post @thehockeywriters.bsky.social : The #LeafsForever could look to tweak and improve their bottom-6. Here are three options that could be worth signing. Special thanks to @markscheig.bsky.social for his help on a former #CBJ player. thehockeywriters.com/3-depth-sign...

New: Emptying the 2025 NHL Combine Notebook. Lots of stuff from the weekend in Buffalo. t.co/k1txLDWJW5

#CBJ prospect Nikolai Makarov has signed a 1-year extension to stay in Russia with CSKA Moscow, the team announced. There was a previous report suggesting he could sign his ELC with the Blue Jackets soon.

My latest is up. #CBJ Roster Projection 1.0. See why there could be significant change at all levels on the ice.

New: Zach Werenski made a decision he'll remember forever. After saying no at first, he joined Team U.S.A. at the World Championships. He helped them win gold for the first time in 92 years while being named an All-Star defenseman. He shined again. thehockeywriters.com/blue-jackets... #CBJ

New: In conversation with #CBJ GM Don Waddell. On the Combine, Ivan Provorov, Dante Fabbro, Daniil Tarasov, the two first rounders and much more. The Columbus Blue Jackets are officially open for business. t.co/wa5CKhPUyH

Still gotta get in the habit of posting here more often. But big news. Russian-based prospects will be invited to the 2025 NHL Combine after three years of not being invited. What went into this change of course? See what Bill Daly had to say. thehockeywriters.com/nhl-will-inv...

Had the complete honor of voting in this season’s NHL Awards. Here was my Norris ballot in alphabetical order. Evan Bouchard Quinn Hughes Cale Makar Josh Morrissey Zach Werenski

The Norris finalists are Quinn Hughes, Cale Makar and Zach Werenski. #CBJ

New: "And he’s got this kind of dog in him where he’s a competitor. Those are the guys you win with this time of year." Who is this about? Monsters Game 1 hero Luca Pinelli. We look back at his great playoff debut & more in the notebook. thehockeywriters.com/cleveland-mo... #CBJ

New: How will we remember the 2024-25 Columbus Blue Jackets? What they accomplished was bigger than the sport of hockey. Why? That's because they became a symbol of strength & hope for many when it was needed the most. #CBJ end of season column is up: t.co/8gmsnVqjaG

New: Got to chat with ESPN’s Steve Levy in advance of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. He opened up about his role on the pregame and intermission desk. They do a lot more than many of us realize. t.co/sxVmUHxaf6

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New: He literally had to beg his parents to be a goalie as a kid. He went undrafted & lost an entire season due to Covid. But through it all, his faith & joy in life carried him through. This is the inspiring story of Jet Greaves' road to the NHL. thehockeywriters.com/the-inspirin... #CBJ

No Fantilli at today’s morning skate. He had a family obligation he needed to attend to following the game Sunday in DC. They skated his line in rushes today just leaving it open. We’ll ask #CBJ coach Dean Evason, but I’d expect him to arrive in time to play tonight.

No lineup changes today for #CBJ … so, Fantilli will play and Greaves gets the net again.

New: You may have seen Cayden Lindstrom in Medicine Hat on the ice in recent days. That ramped speculation up about the possibility of playing soon. We're not there yet. Here's the latest on Lindstrom per GM Don Waddell and when we might see him. thehockeywriters.com/blue-jackets... #CBJ

Carbery said this is "a massive hockey game for our team" because of Caps' recent play: "Tonight, Our last home game of the season, against a team that’s fighting for their lives and is playing like this is their season, this, for us, is a critical hockey game for our team.”

Positive news on the injury front for the Capitals, as Aliaksei Protas and Logan Thompson continue to progress. More: thehockeynews.com/nhl/washingt...

New for The Hockey Writers: #SeaKraken defenseman Brandon Montour played his 600th NHL game on April 12. Take a look back at his career here! #NHL #THW thehockeywriters.com/krakens-bran...

No lineup changes for #CBJ tonight in DC, including goalie Jet Greaves in net for the third straight game … his fourth game in five days.

New: The Columbus Chapter of the PHWA has nominated #CBJ  forward Sean Monahan as its nominee for the 2025 Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy. He lost his best friend weeks before camp. Now he's everything and more inside the Blue Jackets' room. t.co/hnFu5RK8jA

#CBJ lines/D vs Toronto: Johnson-Monahan-Marchenko Jenner-Fantilli-JvR Voronkov-Sillinger-Olivier Aston-Reese -Kuraly-Danforth Werenski-Fabbro Mateychuk-Provorov Johnson-Gudbranson Merzlikins Tarasov