© Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn ImagesWith 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?
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.
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.
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.
