2 months ago
The Blue Jackets are still negotiating a contract extension with star center Adam Fantilli and haven't revealed details about their new NHL-produced television broadcast, but they have released plans for training camp and the preseason.
More: Columbus Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski wants to stay with team 'long term'
Following the Blue Jackets' participation in a prospect tournament Sept. 12-15 in Detroit, they'll open NHL camp Sept. 16 with player medical evaluations. The first day of skating will be Sept. 17, followed by the preseason opener against the Detroit Red Wings on Sept. 21 at Nationwide Arena.
The Jackets will play only four preseason games before hosting the Buffalo Sabres to start the 84-game regular season Oct. 1 at Nationwide Arena.
Fantilli, 21, is the lone Blue Jackets player without a contract. He's a restricted free agent for the first time and is due a large pay raise coming off an entry-level contract signed shortly after the Blue Jackets selected him third overall in 2023.
#contract #fantilli #nationwide
More: Columbus Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski wants to stay with team 'long term'
Following the Blue Jackets' participation in a prospect tournament Sept. 12-15 in Detroit, they'll open NHL camp Sept. 16 with player medical evaluations. The first day of skating will be Sept. 17, followed by the preseason opener against the Detroit Red Wings on Sept. 21 at Nationwide Arena.
The Jackets will play only four preseason games before hosting the Buffalo Sabres to start the 84-game regular season Oct. 1 at Nationwide Arena.
Fantilli, 21, is the lone Blue Jackets player without a contract. He's a restricted free agent for the first time and is due a large pay raise coming off an entry-level contract signed shortly after the Blue Jackets selected him third overall in 2023.
#contract #fantilli #nationwide
3 months ago
It's been a tough offseason for the Blue Jackets, who've been putting out fires ever since it became public in late June that stars Zach Werenski and Kirill Marchenko weren't planning to stay long-term.
More: Hockey fans, internet react to Blue Jackets radio broadcast changes
There have also been lengthy negotiations with key restricted free agents. Jet Greaves and Cole Sillinger nearly reached arbitration hearings, and Adam Fantilli remains unsigned, so it's been a battle for president/general manager Don Waddell to keep the arrow pointed in the right direction.
And that's just the hockey side.
The Blue Jackets' business side is also taking hits with decisions to part ways with longtime radio voice Bob McElligott and team reporter Jeff Svoboda, who'd become team ambassadors in their respective roles. Those moves followed on the heels of the Jackets announcing their TV broadcast will shift from FanDuel to an NHL Productions product.
#broadcast #side #june #werenski
More: Hockey fans, internet react to Blue Jackets radio broadcast changes
There have also been lengthy negotiations with key restricted free agents. Jet Greaves and Cole Sillinger nearly reached arbitration hearings, and Adam Fantilli remains unsigned, so it's been a battle for president/general manager Don Waddell to keep the arrow pointed in the right direction.
And that's just the hockey side.
The Blue Jackets' business side is also taking hits with decisions to part ways with longtime radio voice Bob McElligott and team reporter Jeff Svoboda, who'd become team ambassadors in their respective roles. Those moves followed on the heels of the Jackets announcing their TV broadcast will shift from FanDuel to an NHL Productions product.
#broadcast #side #june #werenski
4 months ago
Have more comments, questions? Reach out to me at bwhite1dispatch.com. Letters are lightly edited for clarity.
To Brian: News that CBJ players Werenski and Marchenko are not wanting to stay in Columbus after their current contracts end is very disappointing to say the least. Also, remembering the terrific Columbus Crew players, Cucho, Zelarayan, and Aidan Morris that we have lost to other clubs/cities makes you wonder what’s wrong with Columbus. Are we chopped liver, or what? Or maybe something worse? Columbus seems to be a great place for professional athletes to develop but not to stay long term. Why can’t Columbus keep the star players that can help us win the big games? It can make a loyal CBJ and Crew supporter sleepless. We can only hope. But, hope is a good thing.
Sleepless in Columbus.
Chet Ridenour Sr. Worthington
To Sleepless, er, Chet: I think the Blue Jackets part is pretty easy: Players want to win, and the Blue Jackets never win. Rebuilds get old for players who see their friends in the playoffs and winning ***** les. As for the Crew, that's how the MLS works. It is a minor league for the better leagues in the world. When players are deemed good enough to move up, it is in the Crew's best interests to set them free rather than hold them hostage.
To Brian: News that CBJ players Werenski and Marchenko are not wanting to stay in Columbus after their current contracts end is very disappointing to say the least. Also, remembering the terrific Columbus Crew players, Cucho, Zelarayan, and Aidan Morris that we have lost to other clubs/cities makes you wonder what’s wrong with Columbus. Are we chopped liver, or what? Or maybe something worse? Columbus seems to be a great place for professional athletes to develop but not to stay long term. Why can’t Columbus keep the star players that can help us win the big games? It can make a loyal CBJ and Crew supporter sleepless. We can only hope. But, hope is a good thing.
Sleepless in Columbus.
Chet Ridenour Sr. Worthington
To Sleepless, er, Chet: I think the Blue Jackets part is pretty easy: Players want to win, and the Blue Jackets never win. Rebuilds get old for players who see their friends in the playoffs and winning ***** les. As for the Crew, that's how the MLS works. It is a minor league for the better leagues in the world. When players are deemed good enough to move up, it is in the Crew's best interests to set them free rather than hold them hostage.
4 months ago
The first day of the NHL's free agency period started slowly, but certainly picked up speed as the afternoon went on.
Now that we're past July 1, NHL clubs can sign unrestricted free agents to contracts and the offseason can finally, truly begin. We saw a ton of movement on Wednesday, mostly in the form of major trades from teams like the San Jose Sharks and New York Rangers. There were also, thankfully, free agent signings to talk about as well, though not as many as you'd hope even with the thin market this summer.
Day 1 of NHL free agency often contains the most impactful moves, as now that the afternoon is winding down, teams will take their time to sort out their contracts as the summer chugs along. With the (likely) biggest deals of the day behind us, let's take a look at the major winners and losers of Day 1 of the NHL's 2026 free agency period.
The Canadiens continue to make incredibly smart moves. Re-signing Ivan Demidov to an eight-year, $73 million deal is tidy work. It's a high number now, but it's an incredibly team-friendly deal considering the kind of player he projects out to be. The Canadiens are certainly going to be a force for years to come and it'll be because of these savvy deals made with their young players.
For now, it seems as if Zach Werenski is staying a Blue Jacket. The defenseman could be moved via a trade this summer, but after all the smoke these last few days it felt like the writing was on the wall for Columbus. With reports suggesting that Werenski is "comfortable" returning to the Blue Jackets after talks with the front office, it certainly seems as if things have cooled off here to possibly Columbus' benefit.
Now that we're past July 1, NHL clubs can sign unrestricted free agents to contracts and the offseason can finally, truly begin. We saw a ton of movement on Wednesday, mostly in the form of major trades from teams like the San Jose Sharks and New York Rangers. There were also, thankfully, free agent signings to talk about as well, though not as many as you'd hope even with the thin market this summer.
Day 1 of NHL free agency often contains the most impactful moves, as now that the afternoon is winding down, teams will take their time to sort out their contracts as the summer chugs along. With the (likely) biggest deals of the day behind us, let's take a look at the major winners and losers of Day 1 of the NHL's 2026 free agency period.
The Canadiens continue to make incredibly smart moves. Re-signing Ivan Demidov to an eight-year, $73 million deal is tidy work. It's a high number now, but it's an incredibly team-friendly deal considering the kind of player he projects out to be. The Canadiens are certainly going to be a force for years to come and it'll be because of these savvy deals made with their young players.
For now, it seems as if Zach Werenski is staying a Blue Jacket. The defenseman could be moved via a trade this summer, but after all the smoke these last few days it felt like the writing was on the wall for Columbus. With reports suggesting that Werenski is "comfortable" returning to the Blue Jackets after talks with the front office, it certainly seems as if things have cooled off here to possibly Columbus' benefit.
4 months ago
Happy free agency to all who celebrate! NHL Free Agency 2026 opens at 12 p.m. ET on Tuesday, July 1 — and what’s really marked this year’s group is far less about the players available to be signed as unrestricted free agents, and more related to the anarchy that could ensue with established talent.
If you’ve been following along, we already know that this 2026 class of UFAs is fairly weak. Teams worked to get ahead of the best players leaving, either locking them up to long-term deals or trading them around the draft to teams that subsequently got contracts done themselves. This also means that players who didn’t get dealt already are now causing major waves, operating as the dominoes people are waiting to fall before other signings take place. The players we’re really waiting on right now are:
Jason Robertson, LW — Dallas Stars: Robertson is an RFA, but has already informed multiple teams that he won’t sign contracts with them, killing multiple trades. Where Robertson ends up will start the dominoes at forward
Zach Werenski, D — Columbus Blue Jackets: Werenski is one of the best defensemen in the NHL, and wants to be on a contender. Stunningly he killed a potential trade to the Dallas Stars, so now teams are waiting to see whether or not CBJ can get a deal done.
John Carlson, D — Carolina Hurricanes: One of the top free agents this year, Carlson was dealt to the Hurricanes during the late rounds of the NHL Draft solely to give the Canes three extra days to negotiate with him ahead of free agency. The league waits to see whether or not this move was successful, and it will have a huge impact on the rest of the class if Carlson doesn’t end up hitting the market at noon.
If you’ve been following along, we already know that this 2026 class of UFAs is fairly weak. Teams worked to get ahead of the best players leaving, either locking them up to long-term deals or trading them around the draft to teams that subsequently got contracts done themselves. This also means that players who didn’t get dealt already are now causing major waves, operating as the dominoes people are waiting to fall before other signings take place. The players we’re really waiting on right now are:
Jason Robertson, LW — Dallas Stars: Robertson is an RFA, but has already informed multiple teams that he won’t sign contracts with them, killing multiple trades. Where Robertson ends up will start the dominoes at forward
Zach Werenski, D — Columbus Blue Jackets: Werenski is one of the best defensemen in the NHL, and wants to be on a contender. Stunningly he killed a potential trade to the Dallas Stars, so now teams are waiting to see whether or not CBJ can get a deal done.
John Carlson, D — Carolina Hurricanes: One of the top free agents this year, Carlson was dealt to the Hurricanes during the late rounds of the NHL Draft solely to give the Canes three extra days to negotiate with him ahead of free agency. The league waits to see whether or not this move was successful, and it will have a huge impact on the rest of the class if Carlson doesn’t end up hitting the market at noon.
4 months ago
NHL free agency begins at 11 a.m. Central on July 1 with a class lacking at the top.
The available free agents have been pared down over the last couple weeks from a perceived weak class. Alex Tuch (Washington) and Darren Raddysh (Toronto) each signed new deals with teams following trades before July 1.
Notable names in the class include goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, defensemen John Carlson and Rasmus Andersson and forwards Alex Ovechkin, Anders Lee and Patrick Kane.
The Nashville Predators open free agency with $17.8 million in cap ***** e, according to Puckpedia. Erik Haula is the most notable Predators player headed to free agency. Nashville has shored up its forward depth with a couple trades over the 10 days, including acquiring and extending center Jack Drury.
Across the league, the most notable news might come from the trade market. Columbus defenseman Zach Werenski reportedly nixed a trade to Dallas, Sportsnet reported on June 30, by invoking the no-movement clause in his contract.
The available free agents have been pared down over the last couple weeks from a perceived weak class. Alex Tuch (Washington) and Darren Raddysh (Toronto) each signed new deals with teams following trades before July 1.
Notable names in the class include goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, defensemen John Carlson and Rasmus Andersson and forwards Alex Ovechkin, Anders Lee and Patrick Kane.
The Nashville Predators open free agency with $17.8 million in cap ***** e, according to Puckpedia. Erik Haula is the most notable Predators player headed to free agency. Nashville has shored up its forward depth with a couple trades over the 10 days, including acquiring and extending center Jack Drury.
Across the league, the most notable news might come from the trade market. Columbus defenseman Zach Werenski reportedly nixed a trade to Dallas, Sportsnet reported on June 30, by invoking the no-movement clause in his contract.
4 months ago
NHL free agency begins at 11 a.m. Central on July 1 with a class lacking at the top.
The available free agents have been pared down over the last couple weeks from a perceived weak class. Alex Tuch (Washington) and Darren Raddysh (Toronto) each signed new deals with teams following trades before July 1.
Notable names in the class include goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, defensemen John Carlson and Rasmus Andersson and forwards Alex Ovechkin, Anders Lee and Patrick Kane.
The Nashville Predators open free agency with $17.8 million in cap ***** e, according to Puckpedia. Erik Haula is the most notable Predators player headed to free agency. Nashville has shored up its forward depth with a couple trades over the 10 days, including acquiring and extending center Jack Drury.
Across the league, the most notable news might come from the trade market. Columbus defenseman Zach Werenski reportedly nixed a trade to Dallas, Sportsnet reported on June 30, by invoking the no-movement clause in his contract.
The available free agents have been pared down over the last couple weeks from a perceived weak class. Alex Tuch (Washington) and Darren Raddysh (Toronto) each signed new deals with teams following trades before July 1.
Notable names in the class include goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, defensemen John Carlson and Rasmus Andersson and forwards Alex Ovechkin, Anders Lee and Patrick Kane.
The Nashville Predators open free agency with $17.8 million in cap ***** e, according to Puckpedia. Erik Haula is the most notable Predators player headed to free agency. Nashville has shored up its forward depth with a couple trades over the 10 days, including acquiring and extending center Jack Drury.
Across the league, the most notable news might come from the trade market. Columbus defenseman Zach Werenski reportedly nixed a trade to Dallas, Sportsnet reported on June 30, by invoking the no-movement clause in his contract.
4 months ago
The Toronto Maple Leafs are expected to pursue defenseman Zach Werenski , who is the reigning Norris Trophy winner, given to the best NHL defenseman for his overall impact. And if the Columbus Blue Jackets make him available, the cost could be enormous.
According to Daily Faceoff, any serious offer may have to begin with rising forward Matthew Knies .
During a discussion on Werenski's trade value, Colby Cohen said recent blockbuster deals have created a framework for negotiations.
"I think there's a roadmap on Werenski because Quinn Hughes was traded," Cohen said. "So I think there's at least a roadmap on the return for Werenski."
MORE: Ex-NHLer Mike Commodore targets Mike Babcock in latest Oilers post
According to Daily Faceoff, any serious offer may have to begin with rising forward Matthew Knies .
During a discussion on Werenski's trade value, Colby Cohen said recent blockbuster deals have created a framework for negotiations.
"I think there's a roadmap on Werenski because Quinn Hughes was traded," Cohen said. "So I think there's at least a roadmap on the return for Werenski."
MORE: Ex-NHLer Mike Commodore targets Mike Babcock in latest Oilers post
4 months ago
It sounds like all the Zach Werenski trade talk to the San Jose Sharks might be moot.
Elliotte Friedman doesn’t think that Werenski wants to come to San Jose, at least not yet.
“Wherever Werenski’s going to go now is most likely somewhere he thinks he can win,” Friedman opined on the 32 Thoughts Podcast. “I just don’t think you can win [a Stanley Cup] there now.
The San Jose Sharks, led by 20-year-old superstar Macklin Celebrini, are undoubtedly on the rise. But they’ve also missed the playoffs for seven-straight seasons and running.
So, the reigning Norris Trophy winner, 28, would have a point. It’s also very much worth noting that the American superstar has a No-Movement Clause this upcoming season, so he’s not going anywhere that he doesn’t want, at least not in 2026-27.
Elliotte Friedman doesn’t think that Werenski wants to come to San Jose, at least not yet.
“Wherever Werenski’s going to go now is most likely somewhere he thinks he can win,” Friedman opined on the 32 Thoughts Podcast. “I just don’t think you can win [a Stanley Cup] there now.
The San Jose Sharks, led by 20-year-old superstar Macklin Celebrini, are undoubtedly on the rise. But they’ve also missed the playoffs for seven-straight seasons and running.
So, the reigning Norris Trophy winner, 28, would have a point. It’s also very much worth noting that the American superstar has a No-Movement Clause this upcoming season, so he’s not going anywhere that he doesn’t want, at least not in 2026-27.
4 months ago
We’re two days out from the Free Agent Frenzy and there’s plenty of speculation swirling about the New Jersey Devils.
Undoubtedly, the Devils need a top-six forward. However, they know they need to upgrade in goal. And yet, the Devils probably also need a puck-moving defenseman.
It’s not short list.
However, in case you missed it, I explained below why although the Devils didn’t use the 12th overall selection in the 2026 NHL Draft in a trade for more immediate help, the summer is far from over.
Elsewhere, Zach Werenski trade destinations, the latest on Dylan Larkin, and more
Undoubtedly, the Devils need a top-six forward. However, they know they need to upgrade in goal. And yet, the Devils probably also need a puck-moving defenseman.
It’s not short list.
However, in case you missed it, I explained below why although the Devils didn’t use the 12th overall selection in the 2026 NHL Draft in a trade for more immediate help, the summer is far from over.
Elsewhere, Zach Werenski trade destinations, the latest on Dylan Larkin, and more
