The CBJ Writer

So, current me hates me from last Thursday, who promised you all a post summing up the last week and my thoughts ahead of free agency. I do this before free agency every year, but in recent years, it's mostly been coaching changes and a few players leaving during free agency. I was put at ease with the organization's quick choice to keep Head Coach Rick Bowness here another season, just days after the prior one ended. Why was I put at ease? Well, I thought we were due for an offseason where we built this team, maybe moved a free agent or two, and sat back and watched other teams with worse performances last season have drama for once. But, apparently not! I don't know if you can tell by my time posting this, but I've been avoiding writing this blog, and it seems the longer I avoid it, the worse things get. Last Thursday, I was optimistic and trying to poke holes in rumors. Today, if I'm being honest, I'm confused, shocked, hurt, and in denial.  Let's start o...

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...