Welcome to the first edition of Blue Jackets Weekly, where we’ll be diving deep into all things surrounding the Columbus Blue Jackets.

It’s a busy time for the Blue Jackets, and it’s only going to pick up from here. With the offseason rolling and the draft right around the corner, there’s a lot flying around regarding trades, signings, roster moves—you name it. I’ll be keeping tabs on it all each week so you don’t miss anything as the Jackets gear up for what should be a pretty eventful summer.

Let’s dive into it.

Blue Jackets Made a Run at Marner in 2019

As per Aaron Portzline of The Athletic, the Blue Jackets are expected to make a run at Mitch Marner this summer. That shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone—he’s a star player who would make any team better. Whether they actually land him is another story. They could make an offer, but ultimately, it’s up to Marner to decide where he wants to sign.

What made this note stand out was that Marner’s agent, Darren Ferris, confirmed that former Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekäläinen discussed the idea of an offer sheet back in 2019. Portzline reported that the organization considered offer-sheeting him before he signed long-term with the Maple Leafs. He wrote: “The Jackets, under then-general manager Jarmo Kekäläinen, were desperate to show the world there could be life after Bread and Bob, but they would need some high-level reinforcements to make that happen.”

He then added, “To this day, it’s hard to say how serious the talks were between the Blue Jackets and Toronto Maple Leafs star forward Mitch Marner, then a 22-year-old restricted free agent.”

Obviously, the team is under a new GM now in Don Waddell, but the sentiment seems to be the same. Many around both the Blue Jackets and Marner camps feel that Columbus could take a serious run at him this summer—especially given they have roughly $40 million in cap space and a need for a play-driving winger.

Werenski & Mateychuk Recognized by NHL

Blue Jackets defensemen Zach Werenski and Denton Mateychuk were named to NHL All-Star teams.

Werenski was named to the NHL First All-Star Team, becoming just the fourth player in franchise history to be named to it, joining Steve Mason, Sergei Bobrovsky, and Seth Jones. He definitely deserves it after the season he had. Werenski set a new Blue Jackets single-season record with 23 goals and 59 assists for 82 points. He also finished second in Norris Trophy voting behind Cale Makar, though some people would argue he deserved to win it.

As for Mateychuk, he was named to the NHL’s All-Rookie Team. This season, he had four goals and nine assists for 13 points in 45 games. He made his NHL debut on December 23 against the Montreal Canadiens. He also saw time in the AHL this year and showed off a bit more of what he can do. In 27 games with Cleveland, he had nine goals and 16 assists for 25 points. It’s safe to say he’s going to be a big part of this team moving forward.

Who Should Be The Next Captain Of The Cleveland Monsters? Next year's Cleveland Monsters should look a bit different from how they have over the last few seasons. This will be part one of looking at who the next Captain will be in Cleveland. 

Blue Jackets Open to Trading First-Round Picks

The word around the campfire is that the Blue Jackets are open to trading both of their first-round draft picks. Whether or not it happens remains to be seen, but there’s a real sense that Waddell wants to try and acquire a top-six forward and could use one, or both of those picks to do it.

That would be a big move for the organization, but it’s also important to maintain strong organizational depth. Columbus holds the 14th and 20th picks in the first round, which could net them a solid forward, defenseman, or even a goalie. Some names they could target in the draft include Kashawn Aitcheson (D) from the Barrie Colts (OHL), Carter Bear (F) from the Everett Silvertips (WHL), or Joshua Ravensbergen (G) out of the Prince George Cougars (WHL).

They’ve got options, and it’ll be a tough call for Waddell—especially with names like Jason Robertson floating around the trade block. Is that the kind of player he’s willing to deal part of the future to bring in? Robertson would be a massive addition and a great fit. I think they hold on to pick 14 and use pick 20 in a trade to go after immediate help. It gives them a little bit of both—adding to the present while still thinking about the future.

The Blue Jackets have their hands in a lot of different pots right now. With the 2025 NHL Draft just two weeks away, things are going to move quickly. Be sure to bookmark the page and check back often for your catch-all source for everything Blue Jackets this offseason.

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