Columbus Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell has secured coach Rick Bowness with a one-year contract extension, allowing him to focus on other offseason tasks. The team is preparing for a long offseason ahead.
Key points
Rick Bowness received a one-year contract extension
Don Waddell can now focus on other offseason tasks
The Blue Jackets are preparing for a long offseason
Now, rather than conducting a coaching search, he can start on his other offseason tasks. Hereâs whatâs ahead for Waddell and his front office:
Columbus Blue Jackets center Adam Fantilli (19) reacts beside center Charlie Coyle (3) and left wing Mason Marchment (17) after scoring a goal during the NHL game against the New York Rangers at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on March 19, 2026. The Blue Jackets won 6-3.
Columbus Blue Jackets center Adam Fantilli (19) reacts beside center Charlie Coyle (3) and left wing Mason Marchment (17) after scoring a goal during the NHL game against the New York Rangers at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on March 19, 2026. The Blue Jackets won 6-3.
Re-signing all four could be an issue. The greatest challenges will likely be keeping Coyle and Marchment. A more sentimental question is whether Jenner, whoâs played his first 13 seasons in Columbus, has played his final game with the Blue Jackets?
Time will tell, but Waddell can jump straight into the UFA situation now that Bowness is back.
âIf I had to go hire a coach, it would be months,â Waddell said. âAs we all know, it doesnât happen overnight. So, to get Rick to come back for this next year certainly helps us as we move forward with all our players, but more importantly, our UFAs.â
Columbus Blue Jackets center Adam Fantilli (19) shoves Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy (73) during the first period of the NHL hockey game at Nationwide Arena on March 29, 2026.
Columbus Blue Jackets center Adam Fantilli (19) shoves Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy (73) during the first period of the NHL hockey game at Nationwide Arena on March 29, 2026.
Columbus Blue Jackets have four NHL restricted free agents
Waddell has an intriguing group of pending restricted free agents at the NHL level that could present some hurdles.
Getting Fantilli a new deal is the top priority, but Greaves is a close second after earning the top goaltending role. Sillinger, meanwhile, has become a key young forward who contributes at a high level in almost every way but scoring goals. If he boosts that, too, his value will skyrocket.
Fantilli and Greaves could be the biggest challenges, and Waddell has tasked his salary-cap experts to project future salaries for the next few years to build in several big pay bumps.
May 29, 2024; Columbus, OH, USA; Don Waddell speaks to reporters after being hired as president of hockey operations and general manager for the Columbus Blue Jackets during a media press conference at Nationwide Arena.
May 29, 2024; Columbus, OH, USA; Don Waddell speaks to reporters after being hired as president of hockey operations and general manager for the Columbus Blue Jackets during a media press conference at Nationwide Arena.
Columbus Blue Jackets to monitor NHL free agent, trade markets
The NHLâs cap ceiling will take another leap from $95.5 million to $104 million for 2026-27, which means the vast majority of teams will be rife with cap space to re-sign UFAs and RFAs.
If thatâs how it plays out, good luck finding impact talent in the UFA market when free agency arrives July 1. Regardless, the Blue Jacketsâ front office will monitor the pool of available UFA and trade targets who could bolster their roster depth or replace UFAs who aren't re-signed.
Jun 27, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Jackson Smith is selected as the 14th overall pick to the Columbus Blue Jackets in the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft at Peacock Theater. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Jun 27, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Jackson Smith is selected as the 14th overall pick to the Columbus Blue Jackets in the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft at Peacock Theater. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Columbus Blue Jackets will finalize NHL draft scouting
The Blue Jackets will send scouts to Slovakia for the upcoming U18 menâs world championships held April 22 through May 2 in Trencin and Bratislava. Waddell usually attends part of the tournament, too, since most of the top draft-eligible prospects compete in it.
Some prospects are also evaluated at the annual NHL scouting combine in Buffalo, which is usually held in late May and/or the first week of June. Buffalo will also be the headquarters of the draft June 26-27, as teams make selections remotely for the second year.
Going into the NHL Draft Lottery on May 5, the Blue Jackets are 14th in the picking order. The maximum number of spots they can move up by winning the lottery is 10 spots, while the most they can drop is two spots.
So, the highest pick they could potentially land is fourth overall, and the lowest theyâll pick is 16th overall. Last year, they moved back from 13th overall to 14th after the lottery.
Apr 16, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets center Luca Del Bel Belluz (65) brings the puck up ice during the first period of the NHL hockey game against the Carolina Hurricanes at Nationwide Arena.
Apr 16, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets center Luca Del Bel Belluz (65) brings the puck up ice during the first period of the NHL hockey game against the Carolina Hurricanes at Nationwide Arena.
Cleveland will again host postseason hockey with the Monsters clinching a spot in the AHLâs Calder Cup Playoffs.
While they donât have as many high-ranking prospects as previous years, thereâs a contingent of youngsters whoâve either played for the Blue Jackets already or may crack the NHL in the near future.
Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins (90) puts his helmet on in the second period of the NHL game at Nationwide Arena on Saturday, March 28, 2026 in Columbus, Ohio.
Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins (90) puts his helmet on in the second period of the NHL game at Nationwide Arena on Saturday, March 28, 2026 in Columbus, Ohio.
One thing Waddell has made abundantly clear since he took over in Columbus is that he canât stand dead money on the books. Buying remaining years on player contracts falls into that category, and he doesnât seem interested in taking that route.
That includes goalie Elvis Merzlikins, who has one year remaining on a five-year deal that carries a $5.4 million annual cap hit. Buying it out would free up cap space while adding an additional year of salary at a lower rate while making Merzlikins an unrestricted free agent.
Rather than scouring through the UFA goalie market, the Blue Jackets are planning to return next season with Greaves and Merzlikins their NHL tandem once again. Bowness also told Merzlikins to prepare for a goaltending competition at training camp if he wants to earn the No. 1 spot back from Greaves.
