With 86 days to go until opening night at Nationwide Arena, there's only one person to talk about - Kirill Marchenko. Kirill Marchenko had a breakout season for the Blue Jackets in 24-25. Everyone knew he would score a bunch of goals, but to add 43 assists caught a lot of people off guard. Marchenko tied Adam Fantilli with 31 goals and totaled 74 points while having a plus-29 rating. He turned into a complete playmaker last season and was arguably the best player all year alongside defenseman Zach Werenski. He totaled 19 power-play points, but only scored two goals. If there was a knock on him last season, it's that he didn't pour in enough power play goals. A player with his shot should be shooting a lot more while the other team is a man down. He managed to play 79 games, even after breaking his jaw while seated on the bench. Thanks to the 4-Nations Tournament, he was able to rehab and rest and came back ready to play on February 22, just 20 days after his injury. He admitted that playing with the bubble affected his play, but he sure didn't act like it, as he scored 5 points in his first three games back. He will be counted on next season to continue his upward trend and continue to pile up goals and points. But if the CBJ wants to improve their historically bad power play, he will need to score 10-15 goals on the power play. I expect 80 points from Kirill Marchenko next season. Shoot more Kirill. Stay updated with the most interesting Blue Jackets stories, analysis, breaking news, and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News [https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqBwgKMK-q0gsw7sXpAw/sections/CAQqEAgAKgcICjCvqtILMO7F6QMwm-DfCA?hl=en-CA&gl=CA&ceid=CA%3Aen] and never miss a story. From The Archive: A Columbus Discovery [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/83121d35-242a-4b16-b7d3-7a8f513378fb.webp] From The Archive: A Columbus Discovery Do you remember when Sergei Federov played for the Columbus Blue Jackets? Many younger fans do not. But for older fans, it was a fun time while he was here. Enjoy this piece from 2006! [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/columbus-blue-jackets/latest-news/from-the-archive-a-columbus-discovery-1] Where Could Chinakhov Land If Traded? [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/c98e50ea-7ce4-469d-81e7-8ffbf7ee1b75.jpeg] Where Could Chinakhov Land If Traded? Yesterday, the Columbus Blue Jackets fan base was shocked by the news that Yegor Chinakhov is looking for a new place to play. His agent took to social media to explain the situation and the differences between him and the coaching staff. Now it has everyone thinking, where could he end up if traded. So, let's take a look at a few trade destinations that could make sense for Chinakhov. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/columbus-blue-jackets/latest-news/where-could-chinakhov-land-if-traded] Does Columbus Have A Communication Issue Between Coaches And Players? [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/c0153896-d98b-4aa8-aede-c0cd6ed3fcf5.webp] Does Columbus Have A Communication Issue Between Coaches And Players? Former Blue Jacket defenseman Jordan Harris gave an <a href="https://www.bostonherald.com/2025/07/17/jordan-harris-relishing-chance-to-catch-on-with-bruins/amp/">interview recently with the Boston Herald</a>, and he said something about the Blue Jacket coaches that could be a cause for concern. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/columbus-blue-jackets/latest-news/does-columbus-have-a-communication-issue-between-coaches-and-players]
