Columbus Blue Jackets: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

Blue Jackets 2026-27 season preview, Elvis Merzlikins' injury makes his departure all but certain

With plenty of questions already surrounding the backup goalie situation in Columbus, Elvis Merzlikins' injury answers some, but raises even more. After experiencing discomfort during offseason training, Merzlikins underwent shoulder surgery, with no timetable for his return expected for at least a couple of weeks.

Features

The Morning Bark

The Quiz of the Day

Why the Blue Jackets should steer clear of Connor Hellebuyck

Last week, one of the biggest names in the entire NHL made his rumored trade request fully public. Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck told the world that he wants a change of scenery via his agent.

Dante Fabbro News / Union and Blue / September 1

Blue Jackets 2026-27 Season Preview, Dante Fabbro must rebound after a brutal 2025-26 season

For many fans, it can be difficult at just a glance to determine how good and how bad many hockey players are when they take the ice. The points totals count quite a bit when it comes to forwards, but it's especially difficult for defenseman, who mostly aren't counted on to generate offense in the same way as most forwards are.

Columbus Blue Jackets News / The Hockey Writers / August 31

3 Underrated Blue Jackets Who Could Be Key Contributors in 2026-27

The Columbus Blue Jackets in this upcoming season will need to rely on some complimentary players to step up, and be the reason this team takes the next step because there is an expectation the top end talent is not enough.

Macklin Celebrini News / Yardbarker Quizzes

The ''EA NHL,'' covers since 2000' quiz

How many of the players to grace the cover of each EA NHL video game going back to 'NHL 2000?"

The 'First-overall NHL Draft picks' quiz

The 'Conn Smythe Trophy winners' quiz

The 'Most NHL goals all-time' quiz

Columbus Blue Jackets News / The Hockey Writers / August 31

Blue Jackets’ Second Line Must Start Delivering Consistent Scoring

We began our 2026-27 Columbus Blue Jackets season preview by discussing the importance of drowning out all the noise surrounding them. After a summer that saw the very foundation of the team almost blown up, it was now up to them to move past it all and focus on the task at hand.

NHL News / Yardbarker

The best and worst NHL free agency deals since 2000

The NHL has had an interesting new millennium. It was a league sans a salary cap when the 2000s started… and then the owners locked the players out for an entire season.

Zach Werenski News / Union and Blue / August 30

Why Zach Werenski is the best first round pick the Blue Jackets ever made at the Draft

This week, we're talking about some of the best and worst in Blue Jackets franchise history. Earlier in the week, that included a look at the worst draft pick the team ever made.

Adam Fantilli News / Pro Hockey Rumors / August 30

Blue Jackets Expect To Sign Adam Fantilli Before Camp

Flying udner the radar of offseason headlines is Columbus Blue Jackets winger Adam Fantilli, who remains without a contract for the 2026-27 season. The Blue Jackets will kick off training camp on September 16th, giving general manager Don Waddell just over two weeks to negotiate with one of his top young players.

Columbus Blue Jackets News / Inside The Rink / August 30

Columbus Blue Jackets News And Notes

With the Columbus Blue Jackets training camp set to open on September 16, it is the lull between the NHL offseason and the start of a new season. For the Columbus Blue Jackets and the summer of discontent, that means a few more weeks until the focus shifts to on-ice only.

Dmitri Voronkov News / Union and Blue / August 29

Blue Jackets 2026-27 season preview, can Dmitri Voronkov find his ceiling?

It's always a pleasant surprise when your team nails their mid-to late round draft picks. The back half of any draft is typically reserved for your projects and long shots, many of whom never see much action in the show.

Columbus Blue Jackets News / The Hockey Writers / August 28

Blue Jackets News & Rumors: TV Update, National Schedule & More

In just over two weeks time, the Columbus Blue Jackets will start ramping things up from an on-ice perspective. That’s when they will take the ice in Detroit for this year’s prospects tournament.

Columbus Blue Jackets News / Daily Faceoff / August 28

2026-27 NHL team preview: Columbus Blue Jackets

The Columbus Blue Jackets really felt like they were headed somewhere meaningful when last season began. In 2024-25, they’d finished with 89 points and their highest points percentage since 2019-20; they’d only missed out on a playoff berth by two points, and they played with structure and discipline under coach Dean Evason.

NHL News / Yardbarker

The defining figure for every NHL franchise

People will talk about the “Mount Rushmore” for a franchise, which is to say the four people, usually four players, that most define the franchise. Not always the four-best players, but the four that evoke the essence of the franchise.

Columbus Blue Jackets News / Union and Blue / August 28

With a history of terrible draft choices, one pick stands out as the worst selection ever made by the Blue Jackets

The Blue Jackets have made a lot of high draft picks throughout their 26 years in the National Hockey League. Many of those players never really panned out, for a variety of reasons.

Columbus Blue Jackets News / Union and Blue / August 27

What could the 4th line look like for the Blue Jackets at the start of the season?

The Blue Jackets may have the best depth at the forward position that they have had since their last playoff run in 2019. The team has 16 players who deserve to be in the NHL.

Click here to get Yardbarker's Quiz of the Day emailed to you!

The 'Season sack leaders by team' quiz

The 'Last 3-HR game by MLB team' quiz

The 'FBS college football nicknames' quiz

The '10-time Pro Bowlers' quiz

Columbus Blue Jackets News / Daily Faceoff / August 27

Blue Jackets make changes to scouting department

Ahead of their 27th season is franchise history, the Columbus Blue Jackets are shaking up their scouting department. Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell announced on Thursday that the organization is promoting Trevor Timmins to director of amateur scouting, while Ville Siren will become the team’s director of European scouting.

Robbie Stucker News / Inside The Rink / August 26

ECHL: Robbie Stucker Heads Overseas

Defenseman Robbie Stucker is heading overseas to the EIHL to join the Sheffield Steelers after spending his first four seasons in the ECHL. Stucker, 27, began last season with the Reading Royals, where he had a goal and four assists for five points in 17 games before being traded to the Utah Grizzlies.

Columbus Blue Jackets News / Inside The Rink / August 24

Training Camp Can’t Begin Fast Enough For The Columbus Blue Jackets

What was supposed to be a summer of addressing roster needs to end the Columbus Blue Jackets’ six-year playoff drought turned into a turbulent, drama-filled summer that has players and coaches ready for training camp to open.

Elvis Merzlikins News / Pro Hockey Rumors / August 20

Blue Jackets’ Elvis Merzlikins Out Indefinitely After Shoulder Surgery

The Columbus Blue Jackets announced that goaltender Elvis Merzlikins underwent surgery to repair a shoulder injury after experiencing discomfort during offseason workouts.

Columbus Blue Jackets News / NHL Rumors / August 29

2026-27 Columbus Blue Jackets Season Preview

The Columbus Blue Jackets enter the 2026–27 season with a reshaped roster after a busy offseason that saw them part ways with their longtime captain and add a proven scorer on the wing.

Columbus Blue Jackets News / NHL Rumors / August 29

2026-27 Columbus Blue Jackets Season Preview

The Columbus Blue Jackets enter the 2026–27 season with a reshaped roster after a busy offseason that saw them part ways with their longtime captain and add a proven scorer on the wing.

Fact Check: Are Tate McRae and The Kid Laroi Back Together After Their 2025 Split?

Cryptic social media activity and viral photos have pop culture fans questioning whether two major chart-toppers secretly reignited their romance. After dating for over a year, Tate McRae and The Kid LAROI officially ended their high-profile relationship in July 2025.

Zach Werenski News / Athlon Sports / August 14

Zach Werenski Addresses Future After Blue Jackets Trade Drama

Uncertainty surrounded Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski as he entered the offseason with only two years remaining on his six-year, $57.5 million contract and his future in Ohio up in the air.

Columbus Blue Jackets News / Pro Hockey Rumors / August 13

Zach Werenski Open To Long-Term Extension In Columbus

Following speculation that Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski might be open to a move, it didn’t take long for a trade to be reached with a deal with

Columbus Blue Jackets News / NHL Trade Talk / August 13

Werenski Provides Major Update on His Future with Blue Jackets

Zach Werenski spoke with the media on Thursday and has made it clear that, despite the trade speculation that surrounded him this summer, his preference is to remain with the Columbus Blue Jackets for the long term.

Columbus Blue Jackets News / NHL Rumors / August 12

NHL Expansion is Coming, Kirill Marchenko and Adam Fantilli

Allan Walsh: NHL expansion is coming to Houston and Atlanta. This season could go a long with to determining if Kirill Marchenko stays in Columbus, barring he’s not traded this offseason Daily Faceoff: Jeff Marek when asked if forward Kirill Marchenko will remain with the Columbus Blue Jackets.