The CBJ Writer

A lot has happened over the last few days across the league and for our Columbus Blue Jackets. I will do a full wrap-up of everything and post it on Tuesday, ahead of free agency, because I don't think Don Waddell is done. Also, there are a lot of rumors flying around regarding players like Zach Werenski and Kirill Marchenko, and I want to see if we get more details before then. Tonight, it's not about anything other than our 1st round pick in this 2026 NHL Entry Draft, and it's Oscar Hemming!  Oscar is from Finland and traveled to the United States to play for Boston College this past season. He appeared in only 19 games this season, but achieved a goal and seven assists for eight points. At 6'4, and 204 pounds, as of right now, I think that's pretty good for such a large transition at just 17 years old! "Physical, skillful, winger" was how Oscar described his game when asked by Dylan Tryer on the 97.1 The Fan Draft Show. He also said he modeled his game ...

It's all over, and the Carolina Hurricanes have captured Lord Stanley's Cup for the first time in over two decades! On that team, former Blue Jacket Eric Robinson, who spent his first 7 seasons in the NHL with Columbus after being undrafted. He then spent a season in Buffalo with the Sabers before joining the Hurricanes in Carolina last season. In his first season with the Hurricanes, he played every regular-season game and helped the team get to the playoffs with a 14-18-32 season.  They'd get past the New Jersey Devils and then the Washington Capitals in Rounds 1 and 2 of the playoffs, but fall short to the Florida Panthers in the Eastern Conference Final. Then, as we all know, the Planthers went on to capture their second cup in as many seasons. This season, from the start of the playoffs, though, I think we can all agree that Carolina felt different.  After playing in 67 of the 82 regular-season games, finishing with a 12-6-18, Eric Robinson and the Hurricanes went back...

 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 ...