With the Columbus Blue Jackets now officially eliminated from playoff contention, they have one last game to play to round out the season.

After tonight’s matchup with the New York Islanders, their focus will shift to the offseason and how the management group, led by GM Don Waddell, will work to improve the roster.

There are a few key questions that need to be addressed.

The first is the future of Ivan Provorov. Do they re-sign him, or let him walk to free agency and look to add someone else at a lower cap hit?

Secondly, there are potential buyout candidates. With all the talk about a complete overhaul in goal, Elvis Merzlikins becomes a name to watch. Another one is Damon Severson, who’s signed long-term at a $6.25 million cap hit.

There are also a number of pending free agents the team needs to make decisions on:

• Luke Kunin
• Sean Kuraly
• Christian Fischer
• Justin Danforth
• James van Riemsdyk
• Kevin Labanc
• Dante Fabbro
• Jack Johnson

Fabbro is someone they’ll likely look to re-sign. He’s fit well alongside Zach Werenski and could come in at a reasonable AAV. Kunin is another interesting name given his connection to head coach Dean Evason. And Danforth is a player who could get attention on the open market, but Columbus may make a strong push to keep him.

As for the rest, time will tell. Some may explore other opportunities. Veterans like van Riemsdyk and Johnson could look for a chance to chase a Stanley Cup. Maybe JVR ends up in Washington to play with his brother Trevor?

Columbus Blue Jackets Eliminated From Playoff Contention The Columbus Blue Jackets have been eliminated from playoff contention.

On the restricted free agent side, the list includes:

• Dmitri Voronkov
• Jordan Harris
• Daniil Tarasov

If I had to guess, Tarasov might be left unqualified, making him a UFA. As for Voronkov and Harris, both are likely to be qualified and re-signed.

Then there’s the draft and free agency. After tonight’s game, we’ll know more about where the Blue Jackets will pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. If they end up in the 10-15 range, I’d expect them to keep the pick and draft a top-end prospect.

1st Annual Gaudreau Family 5K Run/Walk & Family Day Set For May 31st In New Jersey On May 31st, the 1st annual Gaudreau Family 5K Run/Walk & Family Day will occur in Washington Lake Park, Sewell, NJ. If you’re in Columbus, Calgary, or anywhere else in North America and would like to participate, you’ll be able to do just that by completing a virtual 5k.

In free agency, they have the cap space to make a splash. Who’s available and interested will be the big question. A name like Brock Boeser stands out—he’s reportedly heading to market and might be looking for a new opportunity.

As I mentioned in a previous article, Boeser might benefit from getting out of a high-pressure market like Vancouver. Columbus has a loyal following, but it’s not the same intensity as a Canadian market, which might be what he needs.

Could The Blue Jackets Be A Landing Spot For Brock Boeser This Summer? The Columbus Blue Jackets have had a great season. They are ahead of where they should have been in their rebuild process. Unfortunately, they fell short over the last few weeks, and it looks like it'll cost them a chance at playing in the playoffs. 

Another name to watch is Nikolaj Ehlers, who could be on his way out of Winnipeg. There’s a chance he re-signs, but if he hits the market, the Blue Jackets should inquire. Like Boeser, he’s a skilled goal scorer—something Columbus could use to get over the hump and into the playoffs.

Both players could command deals in the five-to-seven-year range with AAVs around $7.5–8.5 million, which Columbus can easily afford to sign one of them while still letting its younger core develop. 

The next two months will be all about the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Unfortunately, the Blue Jackets won’t be part of it. But before turning the page completely, fans should take a minute to appreciate the effort this team put in. They dealt with plenty of adversity and still battled right to the end.

They’ll be back next season—stronger, deeper, and aiming for the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Report: Former Blue Jacket Accused Of Sexual Assault According to a <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6284856/2025/04/17/artemi-panarin-sexual-assault-settlement-ny-rangers/?source=user_shared_article">report from The Athletic’s Katie Strang</a>, former Columbus Blue Jacket and current New York Ranger Artemi Panarin has settled on an alleged sexual assault incident from December of 2023. You can read Strang's full report in the above link.&nbsp;

Columbus Blue Jackets Lines, Defensive Pairings, & Scratches For Tonight's Game vs. New York Islanders The <a href="http://thn.com/columbus">Blue Jackets</a> will play their final regular-season game on Thursday against the <a href="http://thn.com/islanders">New York Islanders</a>.&nbsp;

Columbus Blue Jackets (87 pts) vs. New York Islanders (82 pts) Game Preview The <a href="http://thn.com/columbus">Blue Jackets</a> will play their final regular-season game on Thursday against the <a href="http://thn.com/islanders">New York Islanders</a>.&nbsp;