The CBJ Writer

This nomination was expected but not guaranteed, and now that it's official, it's time to celebrate Zach Werenski as he's accomplished something no other Columbus Blue Jackets Defenseman has: Securing a nomination for the NHL's Noris Trophy. Zach Werenski had a season, unlike any defenseman Columbus has ever seen. I've been waiting for this announcement to give him his own blog post, highlighting every moment and why he should win this honor given to the top NHL Defenseman every season.    This season, Zach Werenski had a 22-Game Home Point Streak. This accomplishment placed him in the league's history books, tying him with defensive great Phill Housley who had his own streak back in 1991-1992. Throughout his 22 games, he had a 13-24-37.  Zach Werenski was the only Columbus Blue Jacket in the 4-Nations Face-Off Tournament. He finished with a 0-6-6 record for Team USA. It was the most points of any player on the team. In addition, he appeared in all four of Team ...

And so it comes to an end: The season that started as a nightmare ends in a way we could've only dreamed. Yes, I know we're not chasing a Stanley Cup in 2025, but for how this season began...this season shouldn't have ended like this. I'm optimistic, even in light of injuries, pain, and loss, and even I wouldn't have thought that we'd battle the Montreal Canadians for the final Eastern Wild Card spot at game 82 this season. I sure as hell wouldn't have predicted some of the numbers our Blue Jackets put up this season either. I am so proud of this team and where they're going. So, for the final time this 2024-25 NHL Season, let's write Chapter 82 in the books at home in Nationwide Arena against the New York Islanders.    With Jet Greaves in net to close out what has been a thrilling two weeks for the young goaltender, the puck would drop on the final game of the season. I'm not going to lie, some good shots were made, but there wasn't much coo...

I'm not surprised that Zach Werenski completed his Community MVP Hat Trick tonight. Yes, he's won this team award in 2023, 2024, and now 2025. Zach Werenski does so much for the Columbus Community. Aside from his team leading 80 points this season (so far) and 58 assists (so far), he's as much of a role model on the ice as he is off.  It's often mentioned in passing, as commercial breaks end, that Zach is no stranger to allowing lucky fans to sit in his suit. This season is no different. Military members and families, first responders and their families, children going through unimaginable health challenges and their families, these are just some of the guests of Zach who've sat in that suit for a game in the 2024-25 NHL Season.  In addition, he donates his time, along with his bride-to-be, to other organizations around Columbus. He now has a tricky task ahead. As the winner of this award, he'll receive $5,000 to donate to any charity he likes. I have no idea ho...

Tonight's final road game of the 2024-25 NHL Season would be an interesting one. A win tonight was mandatory for the visiting Columbus Blue Jackets to stay in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoff hunt. Period one would end as it began, with a 0-0 tie.  Period two would be far more fruitful with goals. The first would come from Dante Fabro, giving him eight this season, at 2:32! The primary assist became number fifty-seven of the season for Zach Werenski, while the secondary became number thirty-six for Sean Monahan. The period would then conclude with a second goal for the Blue Jackets at 17:01 from Kent Johnson, his twenty-fourth this season! Sean Monahan would add his thirty-seventh assist of the season on this goal, while Zach Werenski would add his fifty-eighth on the secondary. So, after forty minutes of play, the Blue Jackets would carry a two-goal lead into period three.  At 13:28, Adam Fantilli would hit his first thirty-goal season in the NHL! Kirill Marchenko would have the ...

There was no doubt in fans' minds that Jet Greaves' performance this past week was that of an all-star, but now he's been recognized by the league for his efforts as well. The week started with a 4-3 road win for Jet in the AHL with the Cleveland Monsters as they beat the Grand Rapids Griffins. He would be called up due to Elvis Merzlikins being injured in practice the following day, April 10th, and would go between the pipes that night to play the Buffalo Sabers at Nationwide Arena. At that point, each game was a must-win for the Blue Jackets, or they'd be eliminated from the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Sure enough, Jet would help the team gain 2 points in regulation with a 3-2 victory.  The real work began on April 12th, with the Washington Capitals coming to town; a team who'd already secured the Metropolitan Division and was definitely heading to the playoffs. Alex Ovechkin would sit out this game, taking a deserved rest after beating Wayne Gretzky's All-Time...

Yesterday's thrilling 7-0 shutout of the Washington Capitals was a season highlight. Jet Greaves would have his first shutout in the NHL as he continues to play in Columbus with Elvis Merzzlikins out on injury. Many players had fights, points, and fights and points. However, today, there are two big differences in gameplay. First, today would be in Washington, which is always a hard atmosphere to play in, let alone win. Second, many players the Capitals didn't have yesterday would play in the evening game today. The biggest? Alex Ovechkin. It isn't impossible, but it is a challenge one the Blue Jackets had to face, as a loss today would ensure their elimination from the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. So, with everything on the line, let's recap some hockey! Jet Greaves would get the start tonight. This would mark his fourth game in five days, three in the NHL and one in the AHL. All of them he's won. C. Lindgren, a solid wall in the net for Washington, would start tonig...

Today wouldn't start well for a team that had to win tonight to stay in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoff hunt. Elvis Merzlikins would be injured in practice, resulting in Jet Greaves being called up from the AHL Cleveland Monsters. He would then go in the Blue Jackets' net immediately tonight. J. Peterka would score his twenty-fifth goal this season on him at 11:54. R. McLeod would add his thirty-first assist this season on the primary while R. Dahlin would add his fourty-eighth on the secondary. This would be followed up by R, Dahlin's sixteenth goal this season at 14:39. Z, Benson would add assist eighteen of his season on the primary while J, Kuilch would add his ninth on the secondary. James van Rymsdyk would slash the Sabers' lead in half in the final seconds of the period, scoring his fifteenth goal this season at 19:51! Kent Johnson would add his thirty-first assist on the primary assist while Zach Werenski would add his team leading fifty-sixth assist on the seconda...

I remember last summer when Sean Monahan announced he'd be coming to play NHL hockey in Columbus for the Blue Jackets. The idea of seeing Johnny Gaudreau play with him again, but here in Columbus, gave me chills, and I made sure my mom and I had tickets for opening night in October. Sadly, the game I imagined in my head never came to fruition. On August 29th, Johnny and his brother, Mathieu, were killed in a car accident. The hockey world stopped, and two organizations, the Columbus Blue Jackets and Calgary Flames, along with the NHL around them, began to mourn the loss of an NHL player and his brother lost too soon. At the center of this, standing with the Gaudreau Family in Nationwide Arena as a memorial banner went up on opening night of the Columbus Blue Jackets season, was Sean Monahan, holding Johnny Gaudreau's son, Johnny Jr.  The game would begin shortly after, with the first 00:13 of the game clock ticking off without a Left Wing, Johnny Gaudreau's position, presen...

A few special moments before we begin the recap tonight. First, congratulations to Meredith Gaudreau, her children, and the extended Gaudreau family on the birth of Carter Michael Gaudreau. I sigh in relief, knowing that he is here and both mom and baby are doing well. I love seeing the photos of him with his big sister, Noa, and brother, Johnny Jr. In addition, the fact Carter was the same size and weight as his dad when born could move you to tears, it has me.  Another big moment tonight as the puck dropped; congratulations to Erik Gudbranson on game 800 of his NHL Career! He would have a point tonight, too, but I'm getting way ahead of myself!  Yes, the cannon still works at Nationwide Arena, and it got a workout tonight! After being shut out at home and on the road, back-to-back, you can only go up, and the Blue Jackets rose to the occasion out of necessity tonight. Dimitri Voronkov would add goal twenty-one to his season, giving the Blue Jackets their first goal in three ...

Some nights, the Blue Jackets have the worst luck. The only goal in period one would come at 10:03 and would be in favor of the home team. Maple Leafs' N, Robertson would add the thirteenth goal of his season, while the only assist on his go would become number ten this season for P, Holmberg. The goal happened as Elvis Merzlikins tried to forward the puck to Zach Werenski, trying to give him a breakaway or at the least a chance to clear the zone, but it would backfire and be intercepted for the assist and goal. The Blue Jackets would have several great attempts, but A. Stolarz would be a wall in the home net for the Maple Leafs. The Blue Jackets would go into period two, hunting for the equalizer.  Period two would, unfortunately, repeat itself. The only goal would again belong to the Maple Leafs, putting them up two goals. In addition, it would come off another fluke of a bounce. The goal scorer would repeat again, too, as N. Robertson would add his second goal tonight, the fourt...

First and foremost, tonight is Military Appreciation Night 2025 for the Columbus Blue Jackets; thank you to all of those who served, are currently serving, and all their families!   This game would go from 0 to 100 from the opening faceoff. 3:25 would see the first goal of the game as a solid Avalanche rush toward Elvis Merzlikins would pay off for the visiting team. N, MacKinnon would pop his thirty-first goal of the season between Elvis's padded legs. A, Lehkonen would add assist seventeen on the primary while D. Toews would add his thirty-second on the secondary. Sean Monahan would even the odds with goal seventeen of his season at 6:35! Dante Fabbro would add assist sixteen to his season on the primary while Dimitri Voronkov would add his twenty-third on the secondary. Unfortunately, this game wouldn't make it to the first intermission tied as the Avalancehh would go up 2-1 late, at 18:05, the goal credited to B. Nelson would become his twenty-fourth this season. C, Maker ...

 It's hard to believe that after tonight, we'll be within single digits of games remaining in the 2024-25 Columbus Blue Jackets regular season. The Blue Jackets would look to capitalize on the second night of the Predators' back-to-back. They lost at the Flyers last night 2-1. The Predators have been eliminated from the 2025 NHL Playoffs, but the Blue Jackets are still very much alive. Tonight would be a high-scoring game, so let's recap because that cannon got a workout tonight, 5th Line! It would only take seventy-five seconds for the cannon to go boom tonight at home. See, I told ya it got a workout! Kirill Marchenko would sink goal twenty-nine just 1:15 into period one. The only assist on this goal would go to Zach Werenski, his twenty-third this season. I love it when our goals leader and assist/points leader combine for good, giving us a 1-0 lead in this case! At 16:34, Adam Fantilli would add goal twenty-three of his season to the score sheet. Denton Mateychuk wo...