Jet Greaves enters camp as Columbus’ No. 1 goaltender, with Elvis Merzlikins out indefinitely after shoulder surgery and Pheonix Copley positioned behind him. The Blue Jackets also arrive at the 2026-27 season with a harder mandate from coach Rick Bowness: change the standard after another late collapse left them outside the playoff field.
Blue Jackets notebook: Bowness demands a different finish
Columbus went 40-30-12 last season, finishing fifth in the Metropolitan Division and missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the sixth straight year. The club was seven points short after dropping nine of its final 11 games, including a 2-8-1 finish.
Bowness, beginning his second season behind the bench, took over from Dean Evason on Jan. 12 and immediately drove a surge. The Blue Jackets posted a 19-4-4 record in his first 27 games, after going 19-19-7 before the coaching change. They could not sustain that push through the final weeks.
When he addressed the finish on April 14, Bowness said the group had not treated losing with enough urgency. Columbus confirmed his return two days later, handing him the task of building a more demanding room.
The offseason reflected that direction. Former captain Boone Jenner was not re-signed and joined the Washington Capitals as an unrestricted free agent. Mason Marchment also departed as a free agent, signing with the San Jose Sharks.
In came two Stanley Cup winners. Columbus acquired Valeri Nichushkin from the Colorado Avalanche and signed Ryan Lomberg in free agency. Nichushkin won the Cup with Colorado in 2022; Lomberg was part of Florida’s championship run in 2023.
Zach Werenski remains the central piece on the blue line. The defenseman was not moved despite having two years left on his contract, and Columbus’ ability to turn into a legitimate playoff contender will matter greatly to his long-term future with the organization.
There is still a major piece of business waiting: restricted free agent center Adam Fantilli has yet to sign a new deal.
What has to travel from October onward
The Blue Jackets cannot afford another slow opening. Their midseason heater under Bowness gave them a chance, but a better first half would have kept them from needing a near-perfect run to stay in the race.
Special teams must climb as well. Columbus finished 22nd on the power play at 18.9 percent and 28th on the penalty kill at 76.0 percent last season.
Greaves is another pivotal name. In his first full shot at the starter’s workload, he played 55 games and went 26-19-9 with a 2.60 goals-against average and a .908 save percentage. Before last season, he had appeared in only 21 NHL games.
Nichushkin gives Columbus a top-six answer
Nichushkin brings a 6-foot-4, 210-pound frame, straight-line speed and a proven two-way game to a forward group that needs more established production. The 31-year-old had 17 goals and 32 assists in 72 regular-season games for Colorado last season, then added two goals and two assists in 12 playoff games.
He is expected to work in the top six and see time on both special teams. Columbus needs him in the lineup consistently; he is a three-time 20-goal scorer and could have room to chase 30 with a larger offensive role.
His underlying scoring profile points to that upside. Eleven of his 17 goals last season came from high-danger areas, while his 23.50 mph top speed and 26 long-range shots on goal both rated in the 95th percentile among NHL forwards. He averaged 17:44 of ice time per game, his lowest mark since 2020-21.
Nichushkin’s career highs came in 2023-24, when he scored 28 goals and 16 power-play goals in just 54 games. He could land beside Columbus’ leading scorers from last season, Kirill Marchenko, who scored 27 goals, and Fantilli, who scored 24.
Sillinger and Del Bel Belluz have openings
Cole Sillinger is beginning a three-year, $13.875 million contract carrying a $4.625 million annual cap hit. The 23-year-old center, selected 12th overall in the 2021 NHL Draft, needs to turn potential into more production entering his sixth full NHL season.
His 33 points in 81 games last season matched his NHL best, though he reached the same total in 66 games two seasons earlier. Sillinger scored 16 goals as a rookie but has not topped 13 in a season since, finishing with eight last year.
Luca Del Bel Belluz could be closer to a permanent NHL job. The 22-year-old forward has played 30 games with Columbus across three seasons, posting three goals and seven assists. He managed one assist in 14 NHL games last season, but his Cleveland numbers were stronger: 22 goals, 36 assists and 58 points in 55 AHL games.
The 44th pick in the 2022 draft has 111 points in 116 AHL contests. With Isac Lundestrom expected to miss the start of the season because of an Achilles injury, Del Bel Belluz has a clearer lane to claim a roster spot.
Projected lines and goaltending
| Unit | Projected group |
|---|---|
| First line | Valeri Nichushkin — Adam Fantilli — Kirill Marchenko |
| Second line | Kent Johnson — Sean Monahan — Conor Garland |
| Third line | Cole Sillinger — Charlie Coyle — Mathieu Olivier |
| Fourth line | Dmitri Voronkov — Luca Del Bel Belluz — Ryan Lomberg |
| First defense pair | Zach Werenski — Damon Severson |
| Second defense pair | Denton Mateychuk — Ivan Provorov |
| Third defense pair | Erik Gudbranson — Dante Fabbro |
| Goaltenders | Jet Greaves; Pheonix Copley |
After the horn
Columbus has added championship experience, kept Werenski in the fold and given Bowness a second season to reshape the room. The early question is whether the Blue Jackets can pair their talent with the consistency and urgency that disappeared in last year’s final stretch.
Next puck drop
The 2026-27 NHL regular season begins Sept. 29.
SEO Title: Columbus Blue Jackets 2026-27 notebook: projected lines, Greaves and Nichushkin
SEO Description: Jet Greaves takes over as Columbus’ projected starter while Rick Bowness pushes for a culture reset. Projected Blue Jackets lines, Nichushkin’s role and key camp questions.
