Welcome to the first edition of Blue Jackets rumour roundup, where my colleague Jason Newland and I be covering all the news and rumors surrounding the Blue Jackets.
You may've noticed that Jason covers a lot of these rumors throughout the week, and if you didn't get a chance to read them, I round them up and put it into a weekend read. That way, you don't miss out on any news or rumors related to the Blue Jackets. There may also be things that we didn't get the chance to cover with them being so recent and so I'll have them for you in the rumour roundup column.
With the NHL Draft less than a week away and free agency set to open just days after, there is going to be a lot to get into. Whether it be trade buzz, to roster moves, to the names quietly gaining traction behind the scenes, this is where I’ll be keeping you in the loop on everything. So without further ado, let's dive into it.
Marner Reportedly Not Interested in Joining Columbus
According to Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic, it sounds like Mitch Marner won’t be coming to Columbus. He’s set to hit the open market and there’s been a long list of teams reportedly interested, which makes sense. Most clubs in the league would want him. But with July 1 creeping up, it looks like the Blue Jackets are not in the picture. LeBrun put it like this: “They would absolutely enter the Mitch Marner sweepstakes if invited to do so. But unless something changes, I don’t think the Marner camp has Columbus on its list of preferred destinations. At least not so far.”
So, if Marner isn’t in the mix, where does that leave Columbus? At the moment, there’s no clear frontrunner. But a lot of people around the league expect the Blue Jackets to be pretty aggressive. Names like Nikolaj Ehlers, Brock Boeser, and even John Tavares have all been floated as options to keep an eye on.
Rangers Interested in Provorov
This one’s been picking up some steam. Both the Blue Jackets and Ivan Provorov have talked about wanting to work something out, but time could be running out. According to a report on RG.org, the New York Rangers are keeping tabs on Provorov as they look to add a top-four defenseman. He fits the mold of what they’re looking for and would upgrade their blue line right away. What makes it a little more interesting is that the Rangers still have to get a deal done with K’Andre Miller. He’s a restricted free agent and could be vulnerable to an offer sheet. That has led to speculation that there could be a sign-and-trade type scenario, maybe involving Miller going the other way if Provorov is moved.
New York has already made some pretty big moves. They traded Jacob Trouba and Chris Kreider to Anaheim and brought J.T. Miller back from the Canucks. There are still question marks with Alexis Lafrenière and Mika Zibanejad. Some think Zibanejad could be more open to leaving now that Kreider is out of the picture. It’s clear the Rangers are looking to retool. They’ve still got Igor Shesterkin in net and even though the window looks to be closing, they’re still in a position to go for it. Provorov could be a big piece to help them get back into the playoffs, and after that, who knows what can happen.
The Hockey News Sunday Recap: Columbus Blue Jackets
Did you miss anything from the past week at The Hockey News - Columbus Blue Jackets? If you did, we have you covered with the Sunday Recap. Click on each card below to read the stories from the past week.
Potential of a Draft Day Deal
This one’s been out there for a bit, but it’s starting to feel like there’s something to it. There’s a growing sense that GM Don Waddell might be open to trading one or both of the team’s first-round picks. The Blue Jackets hold the 14th and 20th picks this year, which are strong spots, but Waddell is reportedly exploring options that could bring in some immediate help.
Personally, I think they’ll keep at least one of them. It doesn’t make a ton of sense to trade both, especially for a team that missed the playoffs and still has pieces developing. If something does happen, it feels more like a package deal where they move up in the draft and also land someone who can help now. Think of what Montreal did with the Kirby Dach deal a couple years ago. That’s the type of structure that could make sense here.
The NHL Draft and free agency are going to force the rumour mill to heat up. Things are going to get chaotic, rather quickly. For those of you who love this time of year, enjoy it, for those of you who love it but can't keep up with all the latest news and rumors, don’t worry. I’ll have everything you need to catch up right here. Make sure to bookmark this page and check back often for all your Blue Jackets coverage.
Blue Jackets Rumors: Mitch Marner Not Interested In Columbus
The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6442128/2025/06/21/nhl-free-agency-rumblings-marner-mcdavid-tavares/?source=emp_shared_article">dropped a piece of info</a> today that will have Columbus Blue Jackets fans split.
Blue Jackets Rumors: Rangers Interested In Ivan Provorov?
Ivan Provorov and Don Waddell have both said publicly that they want a deal done to keep Provorov in Columbus, but will it get done?
Blue Jackets Rumors: Columbus Interested In J.J. Peterka?
With GM Don Waddell less than two weeks away from free agency, the NHL's hot stove is starting to heat up, and Columbus seems to be in the mix. At least that's what the rumors say.
It's Time To Build A Winner For Zach Werenski
With the 8th pick in the 2015 NHL Draft, the Columbus Blue Jackets select: Zach Werenski.
Columbus Blue Jackets 2025 Draft Target: William Horcoff
Today marks one week until the 2025 NHL Draft and things are already heating up. There have already been a handful of trades, a few extensions, and the signing of Jonathan Toews. The best part about this time of year is that it's only going to get better. As for the Columbus Blue Jackets, things are slowly building — my colleague Jason Newland has been all over the latest reports and rumours surrounding the team.