The CBJ Writer

 I've waited years to say this: Congratulations, Zach Werenski, on winning the 2026 Norris Trophy!  As I stated in the title, Zach's the first Columbus Blue Jacket in team history to win the honor given to the best defenseman in the NHL. We may not have made it to the playoffs at the end of our 25th season, but this honestly feels just as good! This season, Zach finished with a +/- of +7. He appeared in 75 of the Blue Jackets' 82 regular-season games, finishing with 22 goals and 59 assists for 81 points. His 59 assists this season matched the record for most by a Blue Jacket in franchise history. He had more multipoint games than any defenseman in the league this season. And, although not in the NHL, he did have the primary assist on Luke Hughes ' gold medal-winning overtime goal at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games. Winning the Norris Trophy is the perfect period to a great season for Zach, which also included becoming a dad to son Hudson a couple of weeks ago. I'm ela...

Undrafted Eric Robinson is heading to the Stanley Cup Final with the Carolina Hurricanes! His first season in the National Hockey League was spent in Columbus during the 2017-18 season. He played just one game that season and had zero points. In the 2018-19 season, he appeared in 13 games but again had no points. That all changed during the shortened 2019-20 season. He played 50 games and had 7 goals and 5 assists for 12 points. From that season on, Eric would grow his game and presence, becoming a favorite amongst 5th Line fans.  In his final season wearing a Blue Jackets jersey, 2023-24, he had only one goal in 7 games, but there was heavy debate over whether Eric should stay in Columbus or be traded. Many were shocked to hear that the Sabers acquired him for a measly conditional 7th-round pick. Upon his departure, he appeared in 266 games across 7 seasons in Columbus. He'd total 38 goals and 44 assists for 82 points in those games. He'd spend the rest of that season in Buffa...

IT HAPPENED!  I've waited for this news since Charlie Coyle celebrated his 1,000th NHL Game and went on a point streak that tormented several teams! Don Waddell, Charlie Coyle, and our Blue Jackets organization announced late this morning that Charlie would not just be returning for next season, but for five more seasons after that! Our #3 will make $6 million a season, bringing his total salary to $30 million over his next 6 seasons in the league. He turned 34 in early March, which could very well make this his last contract in the NHL, and I'm so happy we paid him what he was worth and kept him here in Columbus. In Don we trust.  This season, Charlie was one of the few Blue Jackets players to complete the 82-game season. In those 82 games, he finished with 20 goals and 38 assists, giving him 58 points. His plus/minus was a +3 when the regular season concluded in mid-April. Bonus, 7 of those 20 goals were on the power play, and if you're a 5th Line fan, you know the power ...

Last season, 2024-25, Zach Werenski earned his first Norris Trophy nomination after becoming the highest-scoring defenseman in Columbus Blue Jackets history. He closed out the season with 82 points, consisting of 23 goals and 59 assists. His plus/minus was also an outstanding +12. Unfortunately, Cale Makar would beat out Zach in the final vote after his 30-goal and 62-assist campaign with the Colorado Avalanche. He accomplished that 92-point season with a plus/minus of +28. He certainly earned the Norris Trophy. I'll never discredit that. However, Cale had a more formed team around him than Zach, in my opinion. This season was a fresh start, and although our Blue Jackets fell short of the postseason again, Zach did not disappoint in his scoring or leadership ability. Am I proud? Yes. Surprised? Absolutely not.  This season, Zach finished with 81 points, consisting of 22 goals and 59 assists. His plus/minus was a +7. Not as high as last season, but still impressive for a defenseman ...

June 26th, the Columbus Blue Jackets will pick 14th overall in Round 1 of the 2026 NHL Draft. Personally, although the pick number is important, I care more that we have Rick Bowness locked in as head coach next season. It will be nice watching our general manager, Don Waddell, have a head coach from the start of the offseason who witnessed what worked and didn't work last season. The two clearly work well together and have a shared vision of where this team needs to go. If they didn't, Rick wouldn't be coming back! Our returning head coach will have a hand in players being signed back to the team, for those needing new contracts or extensions, as well as who we will pick in the draft. He's already had a say in coaching changes, too. I can't wait to see how Don Waddell and Rick Bowness use this pick and the offseason to shape the future of our Columbus Blue Jackets. For the highs after Rick arrived, there was a crash and burn low towards the end of the season. I wan...

Introduction and Rick Bowness Staying: I waited a week to write this so my thoughts and feelings about the season could sink in and not be spur-of-the-moment. I also wanted to see what our General Manager, Don Waddell, would decide regarding keeping Rick Bowness as head coach following his blunt and emotional remarks to the media after Tuesday's final game and loss in Nationwide Arena. Rick Bowness made news across the world with his comments of frustration and how he'd change the culture if brought back. I know that sounds dramatic to say 'across the world', but nearly every hockey creator I follow on TikTok posted remarks about his comments, and although the Blue Jackets aren't these creators' primary team, they expressed support for his reaction and hoped he'd be hired back. This doesn't include media outlets like ESPN and the New York Times also writing articles about his emotional response to what had been a remarkable and inspired turn around sicne...