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<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/" xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/" xmlns:georss="http://www.georss.org/georss" xmlns:geo="http://www.w3.org/2003/01/geo/wgs84_pos#" > <channel> <title>The Cannon</title> <atom:link href="https://www.jacketscannon.com/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" /> <link>https://www.jacketscannon.com</link> <description></description> <lastBuildDate>Sun, 11 May 2025 20:24:43 +0000</lastBuildDate> <language>en-US</language> <sy:updatePeriod> hourly </sy:updatePeriod> <sy:updateFrequency> 1 </sy:updateFrequency> <generator>https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.5</generator><site xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">221904873</site> <item> <title>Guest Post: Family, Loss, and Hockey</title> <link>https://www.jacketscannon.com/guest-post-family-loss-and-hockey/</link> <comments>https://www.jacketscannon.com/guest-post-family-loss-and-hockey/#respond</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Dan P.]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Sun, 11 May 2025 20:24:41 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Features]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.jacketscannon.com/?p=13677</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p><em>Editor’s Note: former Cannon writer and longtime commenter Dan Flashes reached out to ask if he could share a piece he wrote about his family and the 2024-25 season. This is something different than we usually do here but I think you’ll appreciate it. </em></p> <p>In case you haven’t noticed (“And judging by the attendance, you haven’t,” —Harry Doyle), I haven’t been commenting here for a bit. I came to realize that the things I was working through in my personal life were affecting how I was interacting with people, and decided that I needed to take a self-imposed break from commenting on The Cannon (amongst other things, of course). I love that this community is still going strong, but I was not in the right head space to participate in it. That said, I was reading along with you all throughout the March Swoon and the April Push. This ending stretch of CBJ hockey was more than just a nice story of a team trying to make a playoff push against pretty long odds; for me, it was also a piece of healing.</p> <p>I began many times to add a comment in the Game 82 recap, but there was just no way to really convey everything in a way that was digestible in that specific space. There are too many words, and in some ways there are no words.</p> <p>The following is my attempt anyway.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">July 2024</h2> <p>“We still don’t really know what this is.”</p> <p>That is, in effect, what my father told us as we all gathered at his home in mid-July. My brother and his son had come up to visit and so I took my son up for a long weekend. We enjoyed the weather and their beautiful space by Lake Erie. Our nightly routine involved going to watch the sun set over the lake. The grandkids would play—often IN the lake itself—and the adults would sit and talk and admire the beauty of nature.</p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" decoding="async" width="640" height="480" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.jacketscannon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/05/pic1.jpg?resize=640%2C480&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-13678" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/www.jacketscannon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/05/pic1.jpg?w=640&ssl=1 640w, https://i0.wp.com/www.jacketscannon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/05/pic1.jpg?resize=300%2C225&ssl=1 300w" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" /></figure> <p>This was roughly a week before the Blue Jackets hired Dean Evason, and in a way we all were living that same experience as fans. A new President of Hockey Operations and GM had arrived, and a lengthy (at least, that was how it felt) coaching search was about to come to an end. We knew things were changing, but we didn’t really know how or how much. We didn’t know what this iteration of the team was going to be, yet; we didn’t know how much work Don Waddell and Dean Evason had in front of them.</p> <p>We didn’t know.</p> <p>My Dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer and had successful surgery to remove his prostate in 2015. He attacked it quickly and with tenacity like he did everything that was important to him. He followed that up with hormone treatments (to block generation of testosterone to starve out any remaining cancer cells) and radiation to the affected area. He put himself through a miserable six months to nuke any cancer cells into oblivion. And he did it. He crushed it. His PSA—the test marker used to identify prostate cancer cells—was “undetectable”. It generally stayed that way for the ensuing years. When it crept up, he would go on the hormone blockers again, even though they made him feel crappy. No half measures. And so it stayed for nearly a decade.</p> <p>Dad had knee replacement surgery in January of 2024. He was determined to attack his rehab with that same intensity. He and I would travel to visit my brother in North Carolina almost every spring to play golf for a weekend, and Dad was determined to make that trip in April of 2024… and we did! Granted we only played two rounds instead of the normal three—and spent a couple hours on Sunday hitting balls and drinking beer at Top Golf instead—but he made it. He wasn’t 100% mobile, and he was starting to show his age more and more, but he set the goal and he crushed it.</p> <p>So, when he started having lower back pain in the spring, he was intent on getting to the bottom of that, too. After all, the knee replacement had completely changed the way he walked and even the actual length of one leg; it totally made sense to us that there might be some offshoot of that causing his back to hurt. His PSA was still “undetectable”. Prostate cancer never entered our minds…</p> <p>…until he had a back scan and the doctors noticed some spots on his pelvis. </p> <p>“We still don’t know what this is,” he told us. But we all wondered and worried.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">August 2024</h2> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" decoding="async" width="640" height="163" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.jacketscannon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/05/pic2.png?resize=640%2C163&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-13679" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/www.jacketscannon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/05/pic2.png?w=640&ssl=1 640w, https://i0.wp.com/www.jacketscannon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/05/pic2.png?resize=300%2C76&ssl=1 300w" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" /></figure> <p>I don’t need to tell any of you what this exchange was referencing. I texted my brother—we always text hockey—that morning when I opened my phone and saw the news. We couldn’t even get through more than a month as a franchise before yet another gut punch was waiting for us. In an instant of senseless selfish recklessness, two bright lights were extinguished. A family forced to very publicly mourn. Two wives widowed. Two sets of children—some not even born yet—with their fathers taken from them. There’s no way to prepare to lose a family member.</p> <p>A team in the midst of so many changes was now forced to change direction again. Grieving a lost friend and teammate while preparing for a six-month grueling grind, all while getting used to a new coach and a new franchise mindset. I don’t believe we fans will ever truly know how difficult it must have been for this team, for these players, for this organization, for the Blue Jackets family. While it would have been hard for us as fans, I don’t know that any of us would have been upset if the players had just packed it in, had gone through the motions, even if some of them had wanted to move elsewhere. </p> <p>PD had reached out to me in late July wondering if I might be interested in picking up some writing work for the site. (For those of you who weren’t around back in the 2010s I was a writer for the SBNation version of the site from 2011 – 2016. If I may toot my own horn, the game preview format is in large part still based on my original design and I’ve always loved that it’s stuck around this long.) We talked about what that might look like, but it kind of got stuck in purgatory for a bit. When we reconnected in September, I had to be honest with myself and with PD: “I never really gave you an ‘official’ response about writing, but I definitely wasn’t going to be able to do game previews; my work schedule just won’t allow it. And then, when Johnny happened, I just… I don’t think I could reasonably psych myself up enough to really get into writing regularly about this team right now. I was watching the game last night for a bit while folding laundry just to see how it would feel, and damn it when Bobby Mac started talking about Johnny on the Power Play and Kent Johnson… I just had to turn it off again. I’m still reading and checking in and all that, but I can’t make the investment of Self to really get inside the team and break things down.”</p> <p>It can be so hard to find the joy in things you love when they become difficult. But find that joy we must. These Blue Jackets would remind me of that when I needed it.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Fall/Winter 2024</h2> <p>After two-ish months of various tests and a pelvic biopsy, we finally had our answer. The prostate cancer was, in fact, back, but had moved to the bones. It had mutated, hence the PSA marker not showing up in routine checks. It was on the pelvis, a couple of vertebrae, and in spots on a shoulder blade. Many of you may have often heard that prostate cancer is very treatable, and by and large, it is. In some ways, we actually considered this to be good news: we knew from past experience that radiation and anti-hormone treatments were very effective against this kind of cancer. It was going to be grueling, but there was a plan, a series of “if-then” statements about how to move forward. While there would be no way to completely eradicate the problem, there was a plan to mitigate it and live through it.</p> <p>Both Dad and the Blue Jackets tried to keep an even keel even as things were in chaos around them. Columbus hovered around hockey-500 for most of the calendar 2024 portion of the season. Dad did his radiation treatments, took his oral chemo medication, and got his hormone ablation treatments. For both, it was largely a waiting game: waiting to see how things would come together, waiting to get healthy, waiting to see what was next. They’d have good stretches and bad stretches, but it all largely seemed to even out over time. In many ways it was all we could ask for.</p> <p>Dad felt generally pretty crappy due to his treatments, but his mindset has always been: define the problem, then attack the problem. He would talk about his impatience in waiting for the determination of what treatment piece was next up. He didn’t want to wait and see; he wanted to MOVE. We made our plans to visit for Christmas. He was in most ways his usual self: his sense of humor was still intact and as self-deprecating as ever. He could get around, though he had a cane with him just in case. He was tired a lot; to be expected. But, he wasn’t letting the disease win in the Jimmy V sense. Things were hard but generally feeling positive; no one anxiously awaited the next step more than Dad. </p> <p>The Blue Jackets, and hockey in general, were a distraction of sorts. Given the overall mission of this website, I will not get into the weeds or get on a soapbox, but in addition to the uncertainty of my Dad’s health, let’s just say that the election results have had a very seriously negative effect on the career paths both I and my spouse have chosen, as well as other members of my family. Given all of this additional stress on my life, hockey was the distraction. My brother and I texted almost daily about hockey and our teams. That the Blue Jackets had, in spite of everything put in front of them, become an eminently watchable team after basically four years of being abject trash was a lifeline for me.</p> <p>I had no idea how much more of one it would become.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">January 2025</h2> <p>In a way, both my family and the Blue Jackets were hoping that weathering the early storm had prepared them for a set of positive next steps. Columbus lost Sean Monahan to a wrist injury, but Adam Fantilli seemed to have a light come on for him as he jumped into the top center spot. So, in spite of a very bad break with Monahan going down in the midst of a point-per-game season and tremendous chemistry with his Russian line mates, there seemed to be a bright light at the end of the proverbial tunnel. The CBJ went on a mini-tear in early January, and finished the month on a 10-2-1 run. In spite of everything they had gone through, it looked like things were coming together.</p> <p>Dad was waiting for a “next steps” scan, to see how the first round of treatment had gone and then decide what to do next. He had made it through radiation and was sticking to his pill regimen even though it made him feel tired and crummy almost daily. We were hoping and needing the scan to give us good news, to give Dad a break. The week of the scan came, and I had planned a weekend jaunt up to their place with my son for the weekend at the end of January wrapping into February. The scans themselves were a mixed bag: the spots that had gotten radiation showed effective treatment and were appearing inactive; however, where they could not radiate the treatments had been ineffective. The new plan was to talk to an oncologist about next steps—most likely a more aggressive form of chemotherapy—and gird ourselves up for that part of the journey. On that Friday, I got to work early, had a plan to leave early, get my son after school, and head north.</p> <p>Needless to say, the text that arrived from my step-mother as I was pulling into my parking space was a let-down: “We may have to change our weekend plans. We are in the Avon ER. Rapid atrial fib flutter. He has not been doing well anyway and now this. Will keep you posted.” Those of you that were around when I “left” writing for the Cannon back in 2016 may remember that all the men on my paternal side have some form of this heart arrhythmia where your heart can beat irregularly and race when your body has to do any kind of activity. Having that in his weakened state meant a trip to the ER.</p> <p>We had to cancel our visit, but I did take the day Sunday to go and visit him in the hospital. He was much weaker than even at Christmas, but with mild assistance could still get around. I spent the afternoon with him, just the two of us. We talked about things both serious—for the first time the subject of “what if” came up—and fun. My brother called and the three of us watched the final round of the PGA tournament on TV together, as we always did when we were together in North Carolina for our golfing weekends. He was complaining of some stomach issues, but it just seemed to be a collection of the various effects of the drugs and radiation he was going through. They did some additional scans as a precaution. </p> <p>I left to go home, and he himself got to go home the next day, his heart back in normal rhythm. It felt like an inconvenient speed bump on the way forward.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">February 2025</h2> <p>For the Blue Jackets, February began the complete opposite of how January had gone. Four straight losses, and a big loss of Kirill Marchenko to a freak broken jaw as he was hit by a puck while sitting on the bench. I listened to that Dallas game on my way home from visiting Dad in the hospital. I didn’t think it some harbinger of things to come—I am comfortable enough with my own belief system not to truly subscribe to such notions—but coming on the heels of four straight wins it was a total balloon deflator. While the Four Nations Faceoff loomed—in essence a free two weeks for guys to get healthy and catch their breath—limping into that break on fumes and having lost your best forward—while still missing your second-best forward—was certainly not the follow up to January we’d hoped for.</p> <p>My family was feeling that in our own journey. Dad was home on February 3rd. He was still dealing with stomach issues—both in terms of lack of appetite and in terms of GI discomfort—but he was home, he was resting, and he was waiting to hear what was next. The scan had showed spots on his liver and with those digestive symptoms there was concern of a different kind of cancer. It would certainly explain the lack of response to the treatment in some areas. He had done all he could to put himself in the best position to fight his battle, but much like a freak puck to the face sitting on the bench, his body just kept having other plans.</p> <p>So it was that the following Sunday night, he was back in the ER with a bowel obstruction. The initial belief was that, due to the dietary struggles he had been having, his body was having trouble moving things properly and, for lack of a better term, things were just “clogged”. On Monday, February 10th, however, I got a text from my step mother that was more sobering.</p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="640" height="159" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.jacketscannon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/05/pic3.png?resize=640%2C159&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-13680" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/www.jacketscannon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/05/pic3.png?w=640&ssl=1 640w, https://i0.wp.com/www.jacketscannon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/05/pic3.png?resize=300%2C75&ssl=1 300w" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" /></figure> <p>We spoke on the phone. She had worked her entire career in medicine as a nurse of many stripes. To hear her voice so shaky, hear her clearly rattled… it rattled me. I rushed home, packed a bag, and drove straight there. He was worse off than when I’d seen him the weekend prior. He was so tired, couldn’t really move, couldn’t sit up. They were treating the specific symptoms of the obstruction, but we had to simply wait and see. Surgery was ruled out due to his weakened state. The hardest part of the ensuing two weeks was the yo-yos. One hour he’d be feeling better, there would be talk of him leaving the hospital to move to a rehab center to get stronger and consider chemotherapy. The next hour he’d be lost, not sure where he was, in pain.</p> <p>My brother made plans to come up. I returned home for a few days but then came back. I was supposed to return home a second time, but that didn’t happen.</p> <p>I know that I’ve shared a lot of detail to this point, but I’m going to forgo that from here. My brother and I fell into a routine that second hospital week: we’d spend the days at the hospital, figuring out from hour to hour what was next. We’d go back to their condo in the evening. We’d drink bourbon. We’d watch Four Nations hockey games. Hockey was our one constant distraction. I was driving back to Columbus the night of the round-robin US/Canada game and had parked at a charging station as things kicked off:</p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="640" height="477" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.jacketscannon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/05/pic4.png?resize=640%2C477&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-13681" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/www.jacketscannon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/05/pic4.png?w=640&ssl=1 640w, https://i0.wp.com/www.jacketscannon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/05/pic4.png?resize=300%2C224&ssl=1 300w" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" /></figure> <p>Hockey was what we had. It was our distraction. When I got back up there, he and I spent a lot of down time when there weren’t games on talking about our teams. We talked about other things, of course, but the thread of hockey was the thing we could come back to when we needed a break, when we needed some levity, when we needed something that wasn’t sadness.</p> <p>The US/Canada final was on Thursday.</p> <p>On Friday, we made the decision that Dad should move to hospice care.</p> <p>On Saturday evening, we said goodbye.</p> <p>February of 2025 was the worst month of my life.</p> <p>But, there was a tiny sliver of hope buried somewhere in there. This is the last text from the month of February that I have from my brother:</p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="640" height="291" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.jacketscannon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/05/pic5.png?resize=640%2C291&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-13682" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/www.jacketscannon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/05/pic5.png?w=640&ssl=1 640w, https://i0.wp.com/www.jacketscannon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/05/pic5.png?resize=300%2C136&ssl=1 300w" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" /></figure> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">March 2025</h2> <p>To call the Stadium Series game a success is one of the biggest understatements of the season. I hadn’t gotten tickets, and while part of me will always carry the regret of not being able to say “I was there” with all of you, even if I had gotten tickets I don’t know that I could have handled it from an emotional standpoint. When the time came, I told my wife that I wanted to watch the game somewhere in public, simply because I did want to experience it with other people; it was a once in a lifetime event. It seemed like everyone in Columbus who cared was down at the Shoe; we had to try three places to find someplace where, when I asked when we walked in, could definitively say they’d have it on TV WITH THE SOUND UP through the entire place. At one point I told my wife maybe we should just go home, admit defeat. To her credit, she didn’t let me.</p> <p>After the miraculous finish to the Stadium game, the Blue Jackets had won four in a row. But even with that going on, I was a bit of a rudderless ship. I returned to work the week following the Stadium Series game, but I didn’t feel like going to work most days. On the really bad days, I didn’t see a point to even getting out of bed. I told some friends at one point: “I’m really, really trying to compartmentalize things that make me happy and focus energy on them. I’m trying to put energy into being a good husband and father. I’m a passable employee right now, and between losing my father and watching our society largely decide the career area both my spouse and I have chosen to focus our lives on just doesn’t matter anymore, it’s really hard to be psyched up for much of anything.” (Public Service Announcement: <strong>Depression is real</strong>, and it is serious, but you CAN talk to someone about it. There’s no shame in it. I did, and am. It is helping me. If you’re fighting these battles, please don’t fight them alone. People are here to listen and to help.)</p> <p>The Blue Jackets seemed to follow suit. Following that Stadium game they went 1-7-1 and were shut out four times. They went from being solidly in the playoffs to needing to pull off a miracle. It seemed like my one coping mechanism had left me in the darkest hour. They won three of four, but then three more straight losses including TWO more shutouts felt like the final curtain on the season.</p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="481" height="516" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.jacketscannon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/05/pic6.png?resize=481%2C516&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-13683" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/www.jacketscannon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/05/pic6.png?w=481&ssl=1 481w, https://i0.wp.com/www.jacketscannon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/05/pic6.png?resize=280%2C300&ssl=1 280w" sizes="(max-width: 481px) 100vw, 481px" /></figure> <p>There were six games left. While mathematically still possible, it seemed hopeless. But, as I continued to work through my grief the CBJ—still no doubt working through grief of their own—decided to give me a boost. Pure and simple, those final six games, though they ended up not “mattering” in the grand scheme of things… they MATTERED to me. </p> <p>The last thing I told my Dad—who was with us in body still—was that if he was ready, if he felt like he needed to go, it was OK. He could go. After going through a repeated stretch of having hope and things seeming lost, I had some modicum of acceptance. And, I think that all of us would have understood if the CBJ were just ready to be done. I still cannot fathom how those guys got off the mat in August and put together the season they did. So, if that 4-0 in Ottawa had been that moment, I was sad, but I had accepted it for what it was. If they were ready, they could go.</p> <p>But then when their time came, these Jackets simply refused to go. They were not ready.</p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="640" height="437" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.jacketscannon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/05/pic7.png?resize=640%2C437&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-13684" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/www.jacketscannon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/05/pic7.png?w=640&ssl=1 640w, https://i0.wp.com/www.jacketscannon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/05/pic7.png?resize=300%2C205&ssl=1 300w" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" /></figure> <p>OK, Ovi had broken the record. They started some poor schlub in goal. Surely the next game of the back-to-back would be the Capitals asserting their dominance.</p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="640" height="230" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.jacketscannon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/05/pic8.png?resize=640%2C230&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-13685" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/www.jacketscannon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/05/pic8.png?w=640&ssl=1 640w, https://i0.wp.com/www.jacketscannon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/05/pic8.png?resize=300%2C108&ssl=1 300w" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" /></figure> <p>With the Hurricanes having long since locked in their spot at #2 in the Metro, my brother went all-in pulling for the CBJ. We certainly no longer had the 2/3 matchup hope to root for, but we both seemed to know that the Jackets were giving me a boost that I surely needed. But, as the Habs played host to the lowly craptastic Blackhawks (no word at press time whether or not Carey Price was injured), surely, this was the end of the CBJ run.</p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="640" height="411" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.jacketscannon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/05/pic9.jpg?resize=640%2C411&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-13686" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/www.jacketscannon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/05/pic9.jpg?w=640&ssl=1 640w, https://i0.wp.com/www.jacketscannon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/05/pic9.jpg?resize=300%2C193&ssl=1 300w" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" /></figure> <p>I, for one, thought Philly was the “trap” game. Last game on the road, still needing some help, a physical bunch of Flyers; I was worried. After all, I’m sure the Habs looked past the Blackhawks a bit and it cost them. I thought, and told my brother, that if we got to that Thursday night game just needing to win to get in with the Islanders having been checked out since the TDL, that we were in. Just needed to not look past Philly.</p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="640" height="409" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.jacketscannon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/05/pic10.png?resize=640%2C409&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-13687" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/www.jacketscannon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/05/pic10.png?w=640&ssl=1 640w, https://i0.wp.com/www.jacketscannon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/05/pic10.png?resize=300%2C192&ssl=1 300w" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" /></figure> <p>Spoiler alert: I didn’t really have faith in the Carolina try-hards. I was at the CBJ/CAR game to end the 23-24 season, and I saw how they played. What I hoped, however, was that Montreal was going to be gripping their sticks so, so tight that Carolina’s try-hards would put enough pressure on them that they’d choke. And, as I watched an otherwise meaningless season-ending game between Montreal and Carolina’s AHL squad, at 1-1 late in the 2nd period I could see it. Montreal was getting chances and flubbing them. They HAD to be feeling the pressure on their backs.</p> <p>Alas, two quick goals at the end of the second period, and I turned the TV off. It was over. Like it does for 31 teams every season, Columbus’s run had ended. Again, I—and I’m sure many of you—would not have blamed the CBJ for mailing in game 82 vs. the Islanders. I had traveled to visit family for the Easter weekend so I didn’t get to watch the game live, but I checked my phone fairly regularly and just loved seeing that they again did not go quietly into that good night.</p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="640" height="125" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.jacketscannon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/05/pic11.png?resize=640%2C125&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-13688" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/www.jacketscannon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/05/pic11.png?w=640&ssl=1 640w, https://i0.wp.com/www.jacketscannon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/05/pic11.png?resize=300%2C59&ssl=1 300w" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" /></figure> <p>Every day feels different. There are days where nothing feels right. There are days where something happens and the one thing I would give anything to be able to do is tell my Dad about it. There are days where I wonder, “Shouldn’t I be sadder right now?” There are days where I wonder, “Why am I still THIS sad?”</p> <p>But, in the context of this piece, every day—at least for now—there is still hockey. There is another season of my adopted playoff Carolina Hurricanes. There are games every night, though that will wane over time. There are crazy moments—Winnipeg with 1.6 seconds left!—and fun matchups, and there is still so much good hockey to watch. And the best part of that for me is knowing that every morning my brother and I will have our hockey debrief. We’ll talk about the games, talk about who looks good, who looks vulnerable (*cough*Caps and Jets*cough*), and it reminds me each day of how much I love this sport and how much, without really realizing it in the moment, it is helping to get me through the darkest time in my life.</p> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/> <p>If I continue on this parallel thread of hockey and grief, there’s one last thing that I would share. Obviously, I’m sad. I’m sad that we didn’t get more games from these Blue Jackets. I’ve of course devastated at losing my father. The hardest part is that neither of them were “done”. As my brother’s response noted above, I think the Blue Jackets as they were playing would have given the Capitals fits in the playoffs; certainly as much as Montreal did and probably more. They were playing with an absence of pressure, and for arguably the first time all season everything clicked into place and they just looked so strong. Not getting to see that group just get a shot… that’s disappointing.</p> <p>And, while my Dad died with or of cancer—it’s not a distinction I care to make—he never got that last chance to give cancer his full on hell of a fight. After a long talk with a doctor during his final stay in the hospital, I distinctly remember him saying, “The most frustrating thing is that none of this has anything to do with treating my cancer.” He wanted that fight, even if his body may not have been up for it anymore. He didn’t get his chance. I would have hated to lose him no matter the cause—to be stark, things were looking pretty difficult no matter what—but I would have loved for him to have had the chance to fight it on his own terms, to decide for himself what was next.</p> <p>We all have people close to us, and we’re all guilty of taking the days with them for granted at times. Yes, you know deep down that, as your parents age, nothing is forever, but there’s no way to sit down and truly “get ready” to say goodbye to someone you love forever. When they are taken away from you when you aren’t expecting it hurts all that much more.</p> <p>Finding the joy is the hardest thing. It will always be the hardest thing. This hockey team helped me by simply not giving in. They got out of bed each day and, win or lose, they powered through. They grieved publicly, privately, and on the ice after goals. They went to work every day and saw their friend’s jersey hanging in his locker, knowing they’d never get to play hockey with him again, talk to him again. And they just. kept. going. Even when it was hard. Especially when it was hard. And even when things looked completely over, they did not quit. It felt like so much of what happened those final two weeks of the season was being ordained from above, like Johnny was skating with the team, helping them get where they needed to go, trying to guide them home.</p> <p>I found an old picture that I set as my phone wallpaper:</p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="480" height="640" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.jacketscannon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/05/pic12.jpg?resize=480%2C640&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-13689" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/www.jacketscannon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/05/pic12.jpg?w=480&ssl=1 480w, https://i0.wp.com/www.jacketscannon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/05/pic12.jpg?resize=225%2C300&ssl=1 225w" sizes="(max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px" /></figure> <p>It’s from many years ago when my son was very little. He and my Dad were walking down to the lake together on Father’s Day weekend. That picture has always been one of my absolute favorites; it’s made me smile, made my heart burst with joy, seeing the way my son held his grandfather’s hand. I will forever feel fortunate that fate had me standing where I was behind them and that I had the presence of mind to stop and snap the shot with my phone.</p> <p>The picture hits different now, of course, for many reasons. My son is older; my parents don’t live on that street anymore. In some ways, everything about it is different, but the beauty of a great photo is that one can be taken back to that moment again and again each time we see it. Every time I pick up my phone, I’m there again on that warm June day. </p> <p>But I also like to look at it now in a different light. In the captured moment of this photo, my Dad was guiding my son, keeping him safe, helping him get where he needed to go. </p> <p>Now I look at it and I still see all of that, but I also see more: I see the spirit of my young child walking with my Dad, guiding him home.</p>]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Editor’s Note: former Cannon writer and longtime commenter Dan Flashes reached out to ask if he could share a piece he wrote about his family and the 2024-25 season. This is something different than we usually do here but I think you’ll appreciate it. In case you haven’t noticed (“And judging by the attendance, you haven’t,” —Harry Doyle), I haven’t been commenting here for a bit.</p><p><a href="https://www.jacketscannon.com/guest-post-family-loss-and-hockey/" rel="nofollow">Source</a></p>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://www.jacketscannon.com/guest-post-family-loss-and-hockey/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">13677</post-id> </item> <item> <title>2024-25 Player Review: Ivan Provorov was a steady presence</title> <link>https://www.jacketscannon.com/2024-25-player-review-ivan-provorov-was-a-steady-presence/</link> <comments>https://www.jacketscannon.com/2024-25-player-review-ivan-provorov-was-a-steady-presence/#respond</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Pale Dragon]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Sat, 10 May 2025 16:00:31 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[2024-25 Season Review]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.jacketscannon.com/?p=13674</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p>In his second year with the Columbus Blue Jackets, Ivan Provorov continued to play a major role on the blue line. He skated in all 82 games again (fun fact: in 9 NHL seasons, Provorov has missed just 3 games. He has played the maximum number of games 8 times) and he trailed only Zach Werenski in minutes per game by defensemen. In addition to a second pair role at even strength, he was frequently on the second power play unit, and always the top-used penalty killer. He displayed an extra level of versatility by primarily playing on the right side – rather than his natural position on the left – once Denton Mateychuk came up and earned his place as the second LHD. </p> <p>The big question is whether Provorov has a future in Columbus. When he was acquired in June 2023, he had two years remaining on his contract and it was expected that he would be trade bait at some point in order to recoup some of what was spent to get him. With the Jackets in a playoff spot at the trade deadline, it was prudent to keep the roster intact to give them a chance to make it together.</p> <p>That push fell short, of course, and now Provorov enters unrestricted free agency. In his end-of-season media availability, GM Don Waddell expressed an interest in re-signing Provorov. Provorov’s agent had made it known publicly in the middle of the season that Provorov was also interested in staying in Columbus. His younger brother, Vladimir, is 17 years old and has been playing junior hockey in New Jersey for the last two years. While he will be joining the Sudbury Wolves of the OHL next season, he has committed to play at Ohio State beginning in 2027. Surely Ivan would like to overlap with Vladimir in Columbus, but at age 28, in his first chance at the open market, would he be willing to take a short-ish term – say, 3-4 years? That is likely where Waddell’s comfort level would lie. On the other hand, there should be other teams that would be willing to go the full 7 years for him, and match or exceed Columbus in AAV. The Jackets have cap space, but already a lot of money committed to the defense, between Zach Werenski and Damon Severson.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2024-25 Stats</h2> <p>Games: 82<br>Goals: 7<br>Assists: 26<br>Points: 33<br>Plus/Minus: 11<br>PIM: 31<br>5v5 Corsi %: 48.3<br>5v5 Fenwick %: 48.1<br>5v5 O-Zone Start %: 46.4</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Contract</h2> <p>Provorov just finished a 6 year contract that paid him an average annual value of $6,750,000. Thanks to the three-team trade with Philadelphia and Los Angeles, the Kings retained 30% of his salary, so his cap hit in Columbus was just $4.72M. That’s a great deal for someone like Provorov! You’d have to think he’s going to want a raise, both based on his play and the rising cap. Is he worth $7.5M? I’m not sure I’m comfortable with that, especially with Werenski at $9.58M and Severson at $6.25M (not to mention Erik Gudbranson for one more year at $4M).</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">High Point</h2> <p>Provorov’s highest point total of the season was 3, all assists in a 6-4 Jackets win over the Blues. Two were even strength and one was short-handed.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Low Point</h2> <p>There were four games where Provorov was -3, including the 0-5 loss to Toronto on April 5, which was a weekend that essentially blew the playoff berth.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Report Card</h2> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">B</h3> <p>He’s a good, solid player. He’s not great. There were certainly plays that stood out as “jeez, Provorov, what were you doing there” but most of the time he was competently invisible, which is ideal for a second pair defenseman counted on mostly for his defense.</p>]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>In his second year with the Columbus Blue Jackets, Ivan Provorov continued to play a major role on the blue line. He skated in all 82 games again (fun fact: in 9 NHL seasons, Provorov has missed just 3 games. He has played the maximum number of games 8 times) and he trailed only Zach Werenski in minutes per game by defensemen. In addition to a second pair role at even strength…</p><p><a href="https://www.jacketscannon.com/2024-25-player-review-ivan-provorov-was-a-steady-presence/" rel="nofollow">Source</a></p>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://www.jacketscannon.com/2024-25-player-review-ivan-provorov-was-a-steady-presence/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">13674</post-id> </item> <item> <title>2024-25 Player Review: Zach Werenski had a Norris-caliber season</title> <link>https://www.jacketscannon.com/2024-25-player-review-zach-werenski-had-a-norris-caliber-season/</link> <comments>https://www.jacketscannon.com/2024-25-player-review-zach-werenski-had-a-norris-caliber-season/#respond</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Dalerrific]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Fri, 09 May 2025 20:11:42 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[2024-25 Season Review]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.jacketscannon.com/?p=13669</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p>One can speculate that Zach Werenski will be exactly Nathan MacKinnon away from winning the Norris Trophy. Cale Makar will likely end up with the honors, the result of being on a team with a superstar and a better power play. No disrespect to Makar, but what Werenski did on a worse team in even worse circumstances not only puts him in the argument for best defenseman, but also most valuable player. Any team could lose any player to injury at any time, and the Columbus Blue Jackets would have been more affected by the loss of Werenski than any other player-team combination in the league.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2024-25 Stats</h2> <p>Goals: 23<br>Assists: 59<br>Points: 82<br>Plus/Minus: +12<br>PIM: 31<br>5v5 Corsi %: 52.48%<br>5v5 Fenwick %: 53.14%<br>5v5 O-Zone Start %: 54.48%</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Contract</h2> <p>Z is signed through the 2027-28 season at an AAV of $9.58 million. It feels like 2028 is far away, but it’ll be here before you know it.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">High Point</h2> <p>There are so many to choose from. Two stand out for me. First, his two-goal, five-point game against the Lightning in November, in which he scored the overtime, game-winning goal. Second, he recorded seven total assists in back-to-back games in late December.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Low Point</h2> <p>He went six straight games in March without a point, and the Jackets only managed three points in those six games.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Report Card</h2> <p>A</p> <p>Why not an A+? It feels wrong to give a perfect grade when the team missed the playoffs so narrowly. I bet Zach would agree. Also, the power play still struggled for long stretches. Werenski will likely miss winning the Norris Trophy. The difference? The power play. Makar managed 10 more power play points, the exact gap in point total between the two defensemen.</p> <p>None of that should take away from the incredible season Werenski had. I would argue that Werenski’s season trails only Bobrovsky’s Vezina seasons in top season performances by a Blue Jacket.</p>]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>One can speculate that Zach Werenski will be exactly Nathan MacKinnon away from winning the Norris Trophy. Cale Makar will likely end up with the honors, the result of being on a team with a superstar and a better power play. No disrespect to Makar, but what Werenski did on a worse team in even worse circumstances not only puts him in the argument for best defenseman, but also most valuable player.</p><p><a href="https://www.jacketscannon.com/2024-25-player-review-zach-werenski-had-a-norris-caliber-season/" rel="nofollow">Source</a></p>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://www.jacketscannon.com/2024-25-player-review-zach-werenski-had-a-norris-caliber-season/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">13669</post-id> </item> <item> <title>2024-25 Player Review: Sean Kuraly was Sean Kuraly</title> <link>https://www.jacketscannon.com/2024-25-player-review-sean-kuraly-was-sean-kuraly/</link> <comments>https://www.jacketscannon.com/2024-25-player-review-sean-kuraly-was-sean-kuraly/#respond</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Burkus Circus]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Thu, 08 May 2025 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[2024-25 Season Review]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.jacketscannon.com/?p=13664</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p>I’ll be honest here. I don’t have a lot to say about Sean Kuraly. He was signed here in 2021 to be the team’s fourth line center. It’s the last year of that contract, and he was a serviceable fourth line center for all 82 games. Coach Dean Evason and his teammates speak highly of his leadership qualities, but he didn’t do much to impress me, and by season’s end I wouldn’t have minded recalling someone like Luca del bel Belluz to take his spot, or scratching him to allow James van Riemsdyk an opportunity to play.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2024-25 Stats</h2> <p>Goals: 6<br>Assists: 11<br>Points: 17<br>Plus/Minus: -4<br>PIM: 40<br>5v5 Corsi %: 48.6%<br>5v5 Fenwick %: 48.9%<br>5v5 O-Zone Start %: 32.8%</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Contract</h2> <p>Kuraly is set to be an UFA this summer, after making $2.5M/year for the last four seasons.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">High Point</h2> <p>Kuraly’s lone multi-point performance came in a 5-2 loss in Seattle, so I’ll go with what’s possibly his final goal in a Blue Jackets sweater, off the rush against the Islanders in Game 82. <a href="https://youtube.com/clip/UgkxxTtn4XM_l5QCbUSYM7GSdsBhaz0Na78a?si=pSFXWayu7tghNFY4">Embeds are being weird so here’s a link</a>.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Low Point</h2> <p>Kuraly was kept off the scoresheet for the 11 games leading into the Four Nations break, starting January 18th, including being on the ice for both regulation goals against in a 3-2 OTL at the hands of the Utah Hockey Club February 6th.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Report Card</h2> <p><strong>C-</strong></p> <p>He was by no means a liability, but his 17 points is the lowest in a full season since 2017-18 with Boston, and his goal and point totals have declined in every year of his contract. In a word: Pedestrian. Probably not getting resigned, thank you for your service.</p>]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I’ll be honest here. I don’t have a lot to say about Sean Kuraly. He was signed here in 2021 to be the team’s fourth line center. It’s the last year of that contract, and he was a serviceable fourth line center for all 82 games. Coach Dean Evason and his teammates speak highly of his leadership qualities, but he didn’t do much to impress me, and by season’s end I wouldn’t have minded recalling…</p><p><a href="https://www.jacketscannon.com/2024-25-player-review-sean-kuraly-was-sean-kuraly/" rel="nofollow">Source</a></p>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://www.jacketscannon.com/2024-25-player-review-sean-kuraly-was-sean-kuraly/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">13664</post-id> </item> <item> <title>Open Thread: Draft Lottery, second round, and Worlds</title> <link>https://www.jacketscannon.com/open-thread-draft-lottery-second-round-and-worlds/</link> <comments>https://www.jacketscannon.com/open-thread-draft-lottery-second-round-and-worlds/#respond</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Pale Dragon]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Thu, 08 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Open Threads]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.jacketscannon.com/?p=13651</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p>It’s a new month, new week, and time for a fresh off-season thread! There was some fascinating conversations in the last thread, which I’ve come to expect from this community. Let’s keep it going! We also have a lot of new things to cover:</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Draft Lottery</h2> <p>This kind of snuck up on me, but the draft lottery is tonight, Monday May 5, at 7:00 PM ET on ESPN. Unlike in previous years, this year the actual lottery itself will be held live. Read more about the process <a href="https://www.nhl.com/news/nhl-draft-lottery-to-be-held-live-on-tv-will-be-really-compelling-for-fans">here</a>. No worries about Kevin Weekes spoiling the fact that the Blue Jackets did NOT win. Each team has a certain number of four-number combinations, with the amount correlating to their place in the standings. On page 13 of <a href="https://media.nhl.com/site/asset/public/ext/2024-25/2025DraftLotteryGuide.pdf">this document</a>, you can see the 20 combinations that apply to the Columbus Blue Jackets. In short, if the first ball is anything other than 1, 2, 3, 5, or 6, then it’s not ours. </p> <p>Draft rules say a team can’t move up more than 10 spots, so as the 13th worst team, the Jackets can only move up as high as #3. Per <a href="https://www.tankathon.com/nhl">Tankathon</a>, these are the odds that the Blue Jackets’ pick will fall at the following positions:</p> <p>#3 – 4.2%<br>#4 – less than 0.1%<br>#5 – less than 0.1%<br>#13 – 90.7%<br>#14 – 5.1%<br>#15 – less than 0.1%</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Second Round</h2> <p>Following the thrilling Game 7 2OT win by Winnipeg, the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs are set. </p> <p>Starting tonight at 8 PM ET on ESPN: Florida at Toronto<br>Starting Tuesday at 7 PM ET on ESPN: Carolina at Washington<br>Starting Tuesday at 9:30 PM ET on ESPN: Edmonton at Vegas</p> <p>We will find out today when the series between Dallas (also a Game 7 winner, on Saturday night) and Winnipeg will begin. </p> <p>Has your pick for Cup champion changed? I had picked Carolina so I’m sticking with them, but Florida did not seem as fatigued as I expected. They’re a legitimate threat for a third straight Eastern Conference championship. In the West, the Dallas Stars could be the team to watch, especially if Miro Heiskanen and/or Jason Robertson can get healthy.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">NHL Awards</h2> <p>The NHL has been announcing the awards finalists over the last week. To no one’s surprise, Zach Werenski is a finalist for the Norris Trophy (along with Cale Makar and Quinn Hughes) and Sean Monahan for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy (along with Gabriel Landeskog and Marc-Andre Fleury). Werenski will likely lose to Makar, but Monahan should be a favorite for the Masterton given the exceptional performance he delivered this season in addition to the personal tragedy AND injuries he had to overcome.</p> <p>A major surprise, for me, was head coach Dean Evason NOT being included as one of the three finalists for the Jack Adams Award. I still expect Washington coach Spencer Carberry to win, and I’m fine with Scott Arniel of Winnipeg being a finalist. Yes, I’m still bitter about how bad of a coach he was here over a decade ago, but he has owned up to what a disaster it was, learned from it, and led his team to the best record in the league in his first season (sure, having the best goalie helps). The third finalist was Martin St. Louis of Montreal. I understand that the Habs got into the playoffs ahead of the Jackets, but Columbus had a +5 goal differential to Montreal’s -20, and the turnaround in the face of tragedy seems worth crediting Evason, even if he ultimately fell two points short of the postseason.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">World Championship</h2> <p>As a consolation prize for Evason, he has been named as head coach of Team Canada for the IIHF World Championship, which starts this Friday in Stockholm, Sweden and Herning, Denmark (hometown of Oliver BJORKSTRAND!). Evason was an assistant coach for Canada in this event last May. Joining him on the bench is CBJ assistant coach Steve McCarthy (HOW DOES HE KEEP GETTING AWAY WITH IT) and Jackets forwards Adam Fantilli and Kent Johnson. I’m excited that Mo and KJ were honored like this for breakout seasons. I hope they continue to play well on this stage, before getting a much-deserved break this summer. </p> <p>Stay tuned this week to see if any other Jackets make their national teams. Werenski (USA) and Elvis Merzlikins (Latvia) already announced they would not be competing. <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6330910/2025/05/04/blue-jackets-mathieu-olivier-team-usa-hockey/">Aaron Portzline reported yesterday</a> that Mathieu Olivier received an invite to join Team USA, but had to decline due to a minor surgery to his punching hand. Despite being raised in Quebec, Olivier was born in Mississippi when his father played minor league hockey there, so he was eligible to play for either nation. Obviously that had not come up until his breakout offensive season.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Monsters stay alive</h2> <p>Finally, after a 2-0 sweep of the Toronto Marlies in the first round of the Calder Cup Playoffs, the Cleveland Monsters found themselves in a 2-0 deficit to the Laval Rocket in the North Division semis. A 3-1 victory on Sunday afternoon in Laval kept the series alive. On the opposite bench: former Blue Jackets head coach Pascal Vincent. Could this be the second year in a row that he’s responsible for top Blue Jackets prospects playing fewer games than they should?</p> <p></p>]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>It’s a new month, new week, and time for a fresh off-season thread! There was some fascinating conversations in the last thread, which I’ve come to expect from this community. Let’s keep it going! We also have a lot of new things to cover: This kind of snuck up on me, but the draft lottery is tonight, Monday May 5, at 7:00 PM ET on ESPN. Unlike in previous years, this year the actual…</p><p><a href="https://www.jacketscannon.com/open-thread-draft-lottery-second-round-and-worlds/" rel="nofollow">Source</a></p>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://www.jacketscannon.com/open-thread-draft-lottery-second-round-and-worlds/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">13651</post-id> </item> <item> <title>2024-25 Player Review: Denton Mateychuk showed off incredible potential</title> <link>https://www.jacketscannon.com/2024-25-player-review-denton-mateychuk-showed-off-incredible-potential/</link> <comments>https://www.jacketscannon.com/2024-25-player-review-denton-mateychuk-showed-off-incredible-potential/#respond</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Burkus Circus]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Wed, 07 May 2025 11:45:00 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[2024-25 Season Review]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.jacketscannon.com/?p=13661</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p>After nearly making the roster straight out of camp, and lighting up the AHL early in the season, Denton Mateychuk was called up to provide another depth option over Jack Johnson and Jordan Harris. By the end of the season, he was the No. 2 Defenseman behind Zach Werenski, and even played some with Z on the top pair.</p> <p>Despite his young age, Mateychuk offered stability among a defensive unit that was more than accident prone. He wasn’t dazzling offensively, only putting up 13 points in 45 games, but was excellent at extending possessions and creating opportunities. He formed great chemistry with pending UFA Ivan Provorov through January and February, but by my eye seemed to struggle down the stretch along with the rest of the roster. Still, he shows great promise as the Robin to Werenski’s Batman for the forseeable future.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2024-25 Stats</h2> <p>NHL:<br>Games: 45<br>Goals: 4<br>Assists: 9<br>Points: 13<br>Plus/Minus: +4<br>PIM: 20<br>5v5 Corsi %: 45.8%<br>5v5 Fenwick %: 46.1%<br>5v5 O-Zone Start %: 42.6%</p> <p>AHL:<br>Games: 32 (27 RS, 5 Playoffs)<br>Goals: 12<br>Assists: 18<br>Points: 30<br>Plus/Minus: +4<br>PIM: 14</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Contract</h2> <p>Mateychuk’s still on his ELC, being paid $887K per year through 2026-27. He’ll be an RFA in 2027.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">High Point</h2> <p>Mateychuk had two multi-point games, including scoring his first NHL goal on January 9th, and sparking two separate multi-goal comebacks March 28th versus Vancouver. But I’ve gotta go with the one that is an eternal record: The first outdoor goal in Columbus Blue Jackets history.</p> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"><div class="jetpack-video-wrapper"><iframe loading="lazy" title="Denton Mateychuk Rifles Home Wrister To Notch Blue Jackets First Outdoor Goal" width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ug4k6QPJTDw?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div></div></figure> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Low Point</h2> <p>Immediately after that Stadium Series game, Mateychuk also struggled, only earning one assist in the next eight games. Just a -2 though. Honestly, for a 20-year-old defenseman, he didn’t really have any bad stretches that stood out.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Report Card</h2> <p><strong>B+</strong></p> <p>I really went back and forth between a B+ and A- here, but ultimately went with the slightly lower mark here. His effectiveness down the stretch seemed to waver, and while his defensive game has room for improvement. But he’s still just 20, so this is an 88 curved to a 92 type situation.</p>]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>After nearly making the roster straight out of camp, and lighting up the AHL early in the season, Denton Mateychuk was called up to provide another depth option over Jack Johnson and Jordan Harris. By the end of the season, he was the No. 2 Defenseman behind Zach Werenski, and even played some with Z on the top pair. Despite his young age, Mateychuk offered stability among a defensive unit…</p><p><a href="https://www.jacketscannon.com/2024-25-player-review-denton-mateychuk-showed-off-incredible-potential/" rel="nofollow">Source</a></p>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://www.jacketscannon.com/2024-25-player-review-denton-mateychuk-showed-off-incredible-potential/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">13661</post-id> </item> <item> <title>2024-25 Player Review: Cole Sillinger is a glue guy</title> <link>https://www.jacketscannon.com/2024-25-player-review-cole-sillinger-is-a-glue-guy/</link> <comments>https://www.jacketscannon.com/2024-25-player-review-cole-sillinger-is-a-glue-guy/#respond</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Pale Dragon]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Tue, 06 May 2025 15:32:00 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[2024-25 Season Review]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.jacketscannon.com/?p=13657</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p>On September 4, 2024, fans and employees of the Columbus Blue Jackets gathered together outside Nationwide Arena to pay a formal tribute to CBJ forward Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew, killed by a drunk driver less than a week before. Earlier that day, general manager and president of hockey operations Don Waddell addressed the media for the first time, followed by the leadership group of the Blue Jackets roster: captain Boone Jenner and alternate captains Zach Werenski, Erik Gudbranson, and Sean Kuraly. At the vigil in the evening, Waddell, Jenner, and Gudbranson addressed the crowd again, echoing many of their sentiments from earlier in the day. Then, when the opportunity arose for anyone else on the roster to speak, 21-year old Cole Sillinger stepped forward.</p> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"><iframe loading="lazy" title="Blue Jackets vigil for Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau" width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/z4UR0cDcZXs?start=528&feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div></figure> <p>Standing there in the plaza, I was amazed at the poise with which Sillinger addressed the crowd, recounting how he grew up idolizing Gaudreau (despite being an Oilers fan in Saskatchewan) and what he learned from Johnny in their two years as teammates. </p> <p>Adam Cairns from <em>The Columbus Dispatch</em> captured this moment after his talk that is both beautiful and heartbreaking, with Kuraly comforting Sillinger after his speech:</p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="640" height="427" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.jacketscannon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/05/USATSI_24154609.jpg?resize=640%2C427&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-13658" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/www.jacketscannon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/05/USATSI_24154609.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/www.jacketscannon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/05/USATSI_24154609.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/www.jacketscannon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/05/USATSI_24154609.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/www.jacketscannon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/05/USATSI_24154609.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/www.jacketscannon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/05/USATSI_24154609.jpg?resize=2048%2C1366&ssl=1 2048w, https://i0.wp.com/www.jacketscannon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/05/USATSI_24154609.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/www.jacketscannon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/05/USATSI_24154609.jpg?w=1280&ssl=1 1280w, https://i0.wp.com/www.jacketscannon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/05/USATSI_24154609.jpg?w=1920&ssl=1 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Sep 4, 2024; Columbus, OH, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets teammates hug during a candlelight vigil to remember forward Johnny Gaudreau at Nationwide Arena. Gaudreau, along with his brother Matthew, died in a bicycle crash last week. Mandatory Credit: Adam Cairns-Imagn Images via Columbus Dispatch/USA TODAY Network</figcaption></figure> <p>Since Sillinger was drafted in 2021, I didn’t think expect him to be the best player on the team, but I saw the potential for a player who could be a complementary middle-six center and a leader in the room, a la Brandon Dubinsky. So far, Sillinger has shown that he has those intangibles.</p> <p>To my surprise, though I thought he was a bit underwhelming offensively this season, I discovered that he set a career high in points despite missing 16 games to injury. His goal numbers were down, but he was contributing more assists and his ice time reflected him taking on a bigger role with the team. </p> <p>Now, with Adam Fantilli having a breakout year and Sean Monahan having four years left on his contract, is there room for Cole Sillinger on the roster? Might he bring a good return in a trade? It’s a fair question to ask, but I wouldn’t be sad if he remained as the next Dubinsky or Jenner type in the room and an important depth piece on the ice.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2024-25 Stats</h2> <p>Games: 66<br>Goals: 11<br>Assists: 22<br>Points: 33<br>Plus/Minus: -11<br>PIM: 35<br>5v5 Corsi%: 44.8<br>5v5 Fenwick%: 45.7<br>Off. Zone Start %: 48.8</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Contract</h2> <p>On August 21, 2024, Sillinger signed a new contract that extended him for two years with an average annual cap hit of $2.25 million. That’s a pretty fair deal for what he has contributed, especially with the salary cap rising considerably over the next two summers.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">High Point</h2> <p>Sillinger had two game-winning goals this season, and the most exciting was an overtime winner in Las Vegas on January 30. Zach Werenski and Kent Johnson did a lot of work on this, but Sillinger made sure he was in the right place at the right time.</p> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"><iframe loading="lazy" title="Cole Sillinger OT GOAL vs Vegas | 1/30/2025 | 2025 NHL Season" width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/d6Wy7DpyQXc?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div></figure> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Low Point</h2> <p>Sillinger suffered a concussion on February 27, just two days before the Stadium Series game. He had to miss that game and did not return until March 28. The Blue Jackets were able to remain in contention after Sean Monahan’s injury, but losing the depth that Sillinger provided proved to be too much to overcome.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Report Card</h2> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">B+</h3> <p>Players like Werenski, Fantilli, and Marchenko are more important to the Blue Jackets over the long term, but Sillinger is up there right behind them in terms of how he makes his teammates better and makes the center depth of this team better. Could he be supplanted by a Luca Del Bel Belluz or Cayden Lindstrom? Maybe. But the front office should take a long, hard look at the return they’re getting before making that call. </p>]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>On September 4, 2024, fans and employees of the Columbus Blue Jackets gathered together outside Nationwide Arena to pay a formal tribute to CBJ forward Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew, killed by a drunk driver less than a week before. Earlier that day, general manager and president of hockey operations Don Waddell addressed the media for the first time, followed by the leadership group of…</p><p><a href="https://www.jacketscannon.com/2024-25-player-review-cole-sillinger-is-a-glue-guy/" rel="nofollow">Source</a></p>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://www.jacketscannon.com/2024-25-player-review-cole-sillinger-is-a-glue-guy/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">13657</post-id> </item> <item> <title>2024-25 Player Review: Jack Johnson’s last ride?</title> <link>https://www.jacketscannon.com/2024-25-player-review-jack-johnsons-last-ride/</link> <comments>https://www.jacketscannon.com/2024-25-player-review-jack-johnsons-last-ride/#respond</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Pale Dragon]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Tue, 06 May 2025 01:31:29 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[2024-25 Season Review]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.jacketscannon.com/?p=13646</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p>When Jack Johnson first became a member of the Columbus Blue Jackets, the franchise was at its nadir. A blockbuster trade for Jeff Carter quickly turned sour, and Johnson was a big piece of the return when Carter was dispatched to Los Angeles. Captain Rick Nash would follow Carter out the door a few months later after a trade request of his own. </p> <p>Even though he was traded away from a team that ended up winning the Stanley Cup that spring, Johnson never expressed resentment. He recognized there was a leadership void in the locker room and stepped up to fill it. The Jackets regrouped and rebuilt over the summer and when they finished just shy of a playoff berth in 2013, it was JJ who took the mic and addressed the loyal fans in Nationwide Arena after the season finale. </p> <p>He remained a key part of the playoff teams of 2014 and 2017, but after turning down an offer of a long term extension in summer 2017, his game fell off in 2018 and he was a scratch for the playoffs. He left in free agency that summer, said some things about a “winning culture” in Pittsburgh that rubbed the Fifth Line the wrong way, and ended up having underwhelming (to be generous) tenures in Pittsburgh and New York. </p> <p>At a low point in his own career, he wound up in Colorado for the 2021-22 season. There he celebrated the 1000 game milestone, and earned the right to hoist the Stanley Cup. </p> <p>Now, as a 38 year old, Johnson returned to Columbus on a veteran minimum deal for a chance to keep his career going. His wife is from Central Ohio so this town was always going to be home again eventually. He didn’t come here to chase a ring, but rather to see if he could mentor another group of young players. </p> <p>His performance was…well, it was about what you’d expect. He only suited up for half of the games, and was “fine” at best and “disastrous” at worst. But for a team that was so young and was missing some key leaders in the room (after the death of Johnny Gaudreau, and the injuries to Boone Jenner and Erik Gudbranson), Johnson could be a steadying influence as someone who had been around the block more than a few times.</p> <p>Assuming this is the end, it is nice that Johnson got an opportunity to finish his playing career in the city where he played the most games, and where he established his family. There were two times where he came here at a low point for the franchise, and left the team better than he found it. Can’t ask for much more than that.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2024-25 Stats</h2> <p>Games: 41<br>Goals: 0<br>Assists: 6<br>Points: 6<br>Plus/Minus: -13<br>PIM: 2<br>5v5 Corsi%: 45.2<br>5v5 Fenwick%: 43.8<br>Off. Zone Start %: 47.1</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Contract</h2> <p>Johnson signed a one year contract on July 2, 2024 with a cap hit of $775,000. He is an unrestricted free agent again this summer.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">High Point</h2> <p>Johnson was a +3 in just 10:41 in a 5-1 blowout win in Toronto on January 22. Remarkably, of the five games in which he recorded a point (this wasn’t one of them), only one was a CBJ victory.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Low Point</h2> <p>The final three games in which Johnson appeared were big losses to Colorado, Toronto, and Ottawa in early April. He was collectively a -5 in 44:21 of ice time, and the Jackets put their playoff chances almost completely out of reach.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Report Card</h2> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">D</h3> <p>Johnson the player wasn’t very good, but he was only meant to be a 7th defenseman type. The off-ice attributes and his overall legacy bump the grade up a bit, in my perspective.</p>]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>When Jack Johnson first became a member of the Columbus Blue Jackets, the franchise was at its nadir. A blockbuster trade for Jeff Carter quickly turned sour, and Johnson was a big piece of the return when Carter was dispatched to Los Angeles. Captain Rick Nash would follow Carter out the door a few months later after a trade request of his own. Even though he was traded away from a team…</p><p><a href="https://www.jacketscannon.com/2024-25-player-review-jack-johnsons-last-ride/" rel="nofollow">Source</a></p>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://www.jacketscannon.com/2024-25-player-review-jack-johnsons-last-ride/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">13646</post-id> </item> <item> <title>2024-25 Player Review: Jake Christiansen secured his spot</title> <link>https://www.jacketscannon.com/2024-25-player-review-jake-christiansen-secured-his-spot/</link> <comments>https://www.jacketscannon.com/2024-25-player-review-jake-christiansen-secured-his-spot/#respond</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Pale Dragon]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Thu, 01 May 2025 13:44:03 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[2024-25 Season Review]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.jacketscannon.com/?p=13644</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p>You would be forgiven if you missed Jake Christiansen’s arrival with the Blue Jackets. He was signed to an ELC in early March 2020, and then the entire world shut down for awhile. He made his debut with Columbus in early 2022 but was primarily a Cleveland Monster for the last three seasons. </p> <p>This fall, however, he earned a spot on the NHL roster out of training camp and became a fixture in the lineup. Not only did he appear in 68 games for the Blue Jackets, but he also earned a two-year contract extension in January.</p> <p>Is he a star? Of course not. But he has proven that he can be a useful third pair defenseman, and can succeed with various partners.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2024-25 Stats</h2> <p>Games: 68<br>Goals: 1<br>Assists: 7<br>Points: 8<br>Plus/Minus: +6<br>PIM: 11<br>5v5 Corsi%: 44.4<br>5v5 Fenwick%: 45.3<br>5v5 Offensive Zone Start %: 46.4</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Contract</h2> <p>Christiansen’s contract extension keeps him with the Blue Jackets through 2027, but with a relatively low cap hit of $975,000 per season. Perfectly in line with a third pair defenseman.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">High Point</h2> <p>Christiansen’s sole multi-point game was a 2 assist effort against Buffalo in October for a 6-4 Blue Jackets victory.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Low Point</h2> <p>Injuries got in the way late in the season, as Christiansen missed time in mid-March and again in mid-April.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Report Card</h2> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">B</h3> <p>Christiansen isn’t a noticeable player, but that’s exactly what you want out of a depth defenseman. It was great to see him earn his spot on the roster coming out of preseason, and he proved to be a solid, reliable piece in the lineup.</p> <p></p>]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>You would be forgiven if you missed Jake Christiansen’s arrival with the Blue Jackets. He was signed to an ELC in early March 2020, and then the entire world shut down for awhile. He made his debut with Columbus in early 2022 but was primarily a Cleveland Monster for the last three seasons. This fall, however, he earned a spot on the NHL roster out of training camp and became a fixture in…</p><p><a href="https://www.jacketscannon.com/2024-25-player-review-jake-christiansen-secured-his-spot/" rel="nofollow">Source</a></p>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://www.jacketscannon.com/2024-25-player-review-jake-christiansen-secured-his-spot/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">13644</post-id> </item> <item> <title>Your guide to the NHL offseason</title> <link>https://www.jacketscannon.com/your-guide-to-the-nhl-offseason/</link> <comments>https://www.jacketscannon.com/your-guide-to-the-nhl-offseason/#respond</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Pale Dragon]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Fri, 25 Apr 2025 02:58:06 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.jacketscannon.com/?p=13640</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p>The first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs are underway, but for those teams that missed the postseason – like the Columbus Blue Jackets – it’s already time to look ahead to the offseason. </p> <p>First, there are teams already making changes to their coaching staff. New York (Rangers), Anaheim, Seattle, and Philadelphia have coaching vacancies, and Rick Tocchet’s position in Vancouver is uncertain. New York (the Islanders) fired their GM, Lou Lamoriello, so who knows if coach Patrick Roy is safe there. The Blue Jackets are obviously content with Dean Evason, and they’ve extended several assistants that he inherited: Jared Boll, Niklas Backstrom, and Steve McCarthy. General Manager Don Waddell <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6296948/2025/04/21/blue-jackets-coaches-staff/">has made some other changes</a>, however, with dismissals of longtime members of the strength & conditioning, training, and equipment staffs. </p> <p>The Cleveland Monsters are still playing, <a href="https://www.nhl.com/bluejackets/news/cleveland-monsters-ready-for-ahl-playoff-run">having just made it into the Calder Cup Playoffs</a>. They received reinforcements via defenseman Denton Mateychk and goaltender Jet Greaves, and earned an OT victory at home in Game 1 vs. the Toronto Marlies. They head north this weekend for Games 2 and 3 (if necessary) on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">NHL Draft Lottery: May 5 or 6</h2> <p>Depending on the playoff schedule, the NHL Draft Lottery will be held on one of those two dates in early May. Unlike in past years, this event has less importance for the Blue Jackets. They finished with the 13th worst record, and the lottery winner can only move up a maximum of 10 spots, so the best the Jackets can pick is third. Most likely they will stay at 13th, but per <a href="https://www.tankathon.com/nhl/pick_odds">Tankathon</a> they have a 4.2% chance to move up to #3 and a 5.1% chance to fall to 14th. The Jackets also have Minnesota’s first round pick thanks to the David Jiricek, and that pick is currently #20. It will drop farther if the Wild advance beyond the first round in these playoffs.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">World Championships: May 9-25</h2> <p>CBJ Head Coach Dean Evason has been selected to be head coach of Team Canada in the upcoming World Championships. Keep an eye out for some Canadian Jackets to be on the roster. Boone Jenner, perhaps, after playing a shortened season following his shoulder injury? Team USA defenseman Zach Werenski has already said that he will NOT participate, due to a busy off-season that includes his wedding. </p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Buyout window: June 15*-30</h2> <p>Beginning on the later of June 15th or the last day of the Stanley Cup Final (last possible day is June 23) and running through June 30, NHL teams may buy out contracts. Waddell told the media that he is not anticipating any buyouts at this time, but let’s see if anything changes between now and then. Elvis Merzlikins and Damon Severson could be possible buyout targets if Waddell is unable to trade them by then.</p> <p>That June 15th OR last day of the Final is also the deadline for clubs to file for arbitration with restricted free agents. The eligible Jackets are Dmitri Voronkov, Jordan Harris, Daniil Tarasov, Hunter McKown, and Cole Clayton.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">NHL Entry Draft: June 27-28</h2> <p>The first round of the draft will be on Friday, June 27, with the second through seventh rounds on Saturday, June 28. At the moment, the Jackets possess seven picks in the draft, with two in the first and seventh rounds, one each in the third, fourth, and sixth rounds, and none in the second or fifth. Don’t be surprised if Waddell moves some of these picks to make more immediate upgrades to the roster.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">NHL Free Agency: July 1</h2> <p>Per tradition, the league year begins on Canada Day, July 1, which means it’s the first day that free agents can sign with a new team. Here are the pending unrestricted free agents in the Columbus system:</p> <p><strong>Forwards: </strong>Luke Kunin, Sean Kuraly, Christian Fischer, Justin Danforth, James van Riemsdyk, Kevin Labanc, Joe Labate, Dylan Gambrell, Trey Fix-Wolansky, Owen Sillinger</p> <p><strong>Defensemen: </strong>Ivan Provorov, Dante Fabbro, Jack Johnson</p> <p><strong>Goalies:</strong> Zachary Sawchenko</p> <p>Waddell already said that they’re looking to extend Provorov and Fabbro. Danforth, JVR, and the Other Sillinger seem like possibilities to bring back, but there aren’t many spots left for them.</p> <p>Here are the restricted free agents:</p> <p><strong>Forwards:</strong> Dmitri Voronkov, Hunter McKown, Mikael Pyyhtia</p> <p><strong>Defensemen:</strong> Jordan Harris, Samuel Knazko, Daemon Hunt, Ole-Julian Bjorgvik-Holm, Cole Clayton</p> <p><strong>Goalies:</strong> Daniil Tarasov</p> <p>The priority here is obviously Voronkov, who played on the first line for most of the season. Pyyhtia proved to be a solid bottom 6 option when he played in Columbus, so he should be retained as well. Hunt was the return in the Jiricek trade, but never got called up to Columbus. Not sure if there’s a future here or not. If Tarasov can’t be traded, I expect him to be non-tendered. The goalie tandem in Columbus next season will include Jet Greaves and then either Elvis Merzlikins or some veteran pickup. Either way, Tarasov is no longer part of the future.</p> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/> <p>What moves are you hoping the Blue Jackets will make this off-season?</p>]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs are underway, but for those teams that missed the postseason – like the Columbus Blue Jackets – it’s already time to look ahead to the offseason. First, there are teams already making changes to their coaching staff. New York (Rangers), Anaheim, Seattle, and Philadelphia have coaching vacancies, and Rick Tocchet’s position in Vancouver is…</p><p><a href="https://www.jacketscannon.com/your-guide-to-the-nhl-offseason/" rel="nofollow">Source</a></p>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://www.jacketscannon.com/your-guide-to-the-nhl-offseason/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">13640</post-id> </item> </channel></rss> <!-- plugin=object-cache-pro client=phpredis metric#hits=4072 metric#misses=112 metric#hit-ratio=97.3 metric#bytes=1089345 metric#prefetches=148 metric#store-reads=111 metric#store-writes=2 metric#store-hits=162 metric#store-misses=109 metric#sql-queries=3 metric#ms-total=255.16 metric#ms-cache=17.17 metric#ms-cache-avg=0.1533 metric#ms-cache-ratio=6.7 --> If you would like to create a banner that links to this page (i.e. this validation result), do the following:
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