2026-27 Blue Jackets Roster Projection 3.0: New Faces, Big Injuries & Holes to Fill – The Hockey Writers – Columbus Blue Jackets

For most NHL teams, their business is mostly done by the time we get to the fourth of July. Most of the major contracts are figured out. They’ve made their free-agent signings. Ideally, this is the time where teams try to enjoy some semblance of a summer before things kick back into high gear in September.

The Columbus Blue Jackets aren’t most NHL teams right now. They still have a lot of unfinished business to take care of. What’s more, the timeline of when their business will get done is undetermined. This business could impact what the roster looks like to start the 2026-27 season.

Welcome back to our 2026-27 Blue Jackets Roster Projection. This is our third entry in the series projecting what the opening-night roster could look like. In case you missed the first two parts, you can catch up below.

A lot has changed since we released our 2.0 version. There are new faces on the team. Some familiar faces have officially moved on. There is a big injury to a key player from last season. And we must consider what other moves could be made given the urgency to win in 2026-27.

With that in mind, let’s dive right in. The top and bottom-six will have a new look to them thanks to the losses of Boone Jenner and Mason Marchment in free agency.

Impact of Nichushkin & Lomberg

All offseason long, the Blue Jackets made no secret of the fact that they wanted a top-nine winger to add to their group. With scoring a major issue down the stretch of last season, GM Don Waddell identified that as a need. He was able to address the need through a draft-week trade.

On the Thursday before the NHL Draft, the Blue Jackets acquired winger Valeri Nichushkin from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for three draft picks including a second rounder from this year. The Avalanche drafted Egor Shilov with the 43rd overall pick.

Nichushkin brings elements to the Blue Jackets that improve the team immediately. He has scored 108 goals in his last five seasons with the Avalanche. His best offensive seasons all came within the last five years with three seasons over 20 goals and two seasons over 50 points. For three later-round picks, that’s a good piece of business as the Blue Jackets didn’t have to trade their first rounder to make the deal happen.

The risk here is that Nichushkin has been in and out of the lineup for various reasons. His availability will be a massive part to how this deal looks in a few years. Regardless, his presence will give the Blue Jackets another scoring option while improving their defense. Most notably, the penalty kill should get a boost.

Nichushkin was not the only piece of business the Blue Jackets got done. In free agency, they were able to sign Ryan Lomberg to a two-year deal. Have you noticed the pattern yet with Waddell? He likes his bottom-six to be fast and relentless. Lomberg certainly fits that bill.

Both Nichushkin and Lomberg are Stanley Cup champions. Adding that element to the room should help a team in the Blue Jackets looking to make the leap back to the playoffs.

Lundestrom’s Injury

Another thing that we’ll have to watch for is the status of Isac Lundestrom. A report made the rounds out of Sweden indicating that he tore his Achilles.

The Blue Jackets confirmed to the Hockey Writers that they were aware of the news and were awaiting more information. That information appears to be specific test results which would determine how much time Lundestrom could miss.

If this turns out to be the worst-case scenario, Lundestrom could miss most of the 2026-27 season. Stay tuned for an official team update once they know more.

Losing Lundestrom would hurt the team given the number of different roles he could play. He certainly had a fan in Rick Bowness. This will open the door for someone to step up. Waddell wanted to leave a roster spot or two open for competition. Opportunity awaits now.

Projected Forward Lines

Here is a sample of how the Blue Jackets could choose to lineup based on the roster as of this writing. We are assuming the RFAs re-sign prior to the season.

• Valeri Nichushkin – Adam Fantilli – Kirill Marchenko
• Dmitri Voronkov – Sean Monahan – Kent Johnson
• Ryan Lomberg – Charlie Coyle – Conor Garland
• Miles Wood – Cole Sillinger – Mathieu Olivier
• Extras: Mikael Pyyhtia, Luca Del Bel Belluz

Couple of things to note here. This is just one possible iteration of the lineup. There is flexibility in how this could look based on performance and other factors. It’s important to remember that Waddell believes that Voronkov and Johnson are top-six players.

The Lundestrom situation is why we have Sillinger listed as the fourth-line center. Assuming Monahan is back to his usual self health-wise, the top-three centers project to be Fantilli, Monahan and Coyle. There is always the chance the Blue Jackets look for help in that role or look to someone from Cleveland. Ideally, the Blue Jackets would love to run back the line of Sillinger, Coyle and Olivier.

Here is the most important question to consider. No matter what the final lines look like, is this roster a true Stanley Cup contender as we speak? There is a big difference between being good enough to make the playoffs and being good enough to win the Stanley Cup.

The Blue Jackets are good enough to be a playoff team. However, they have yet to show they are good enough to be considered a true contender. It makes you wonder what other moves are available to be made.

If not, then it will show how much the Blue Jackets are depending on internal growth. Fantilli has to level up his game to reach his 1C potential. Voronkov and Johnson need to play like they are capable of. Marchenko needs to take another step in his game.

This is not quite a run it back situation since Nichushkin and Lomberg are on the team. But having some continuity is never a bad thing. The Blue Jackets are used to change. Being able to build something over time to allow consistency to develop is something they would warmly welcome.

If Lundestrom’s injury isn’t as bad as feared, he could be back sooner. How will that affect the roster? Can’t help but think if the right trade opportunity comes up, the Blue Jackets have room to make it happen. They have to continue to explore every possibility to improve if they even want to think about competing with the likes of the Hurricanes or anyone else in the Eastern Conference.

Defense & Goaltending

Unlike the forwards, the defense and goaltending appear to be a run it back situation. Here’s how it looks as of now.

• Zach Werenski – Damon Severson
• Ivan Provorov – Denton Mateychuk
• Dante Fabbro – Erik Gudbranson
• Jake Christiansen
• Jet Greaves, Elvis Merzlikins, Pheonix Copley

The loss of Damon Severson was one of the big factors that derailed the Blue Jackets last season. He is expected to be ready for training camp.

Will the Blue Jackets choose to go lefty/righty on all three pairs? They leaned on Provorov/Mateychuk a lot and might continue to do so.

The Blue Jackets did re-sign Erik Gudbranson to a 1-year deal. He does have that shutdown element to his game the team sorely needed. Still can’t rule out another move on the blue line if the right opportunity presents itself.

Trade concept I recently thought about. One of the top-six forwards for a top-four right-handed shutdown defenseman? Need for need trade?

In net, the Blue Jackets lost both Ivan Fedotov and Zach Sawchenko. They added Pheonix Copley which gives the team three NHL goalies. Copley is expected to be the guy in Cleveland. Could we see Evan Gardner get a bigger role there too?

There is nothing new to report on Sergei Ivanov. If the Blue Jackets do get him to come over, that would impact the goaltending situation. There is no indication anything is imminent here.

Final Thoughts

Obviously, a lot can still happen between now and the start of the season. But the overwhelming takeaway for me is twofold.

First, internal growth is mandatory. Everyone on the roster must step up. The Blue Jackets stayed in the playoff race most of the season without some of their key players at their best. Getting those extra contributions will prove vital when every point matters.

Then second, Rick Bowness’ influence will be paramount. With a full offseason of planning, the Blue Jackets can continue to build continuity and adjust systems to the way Bowness wants to do things.

It’s worth noting that the Blue Jackets were one of the best defensive teams in the NHL after Bowness came on. They will need much more of that to get to where they want to go.

We will release Version 4.0 before the team goes to Detroit and participates in the Prospect’s Tournament. Until then, can they find a way to improve the roster enough to really get into the contender conversation?

As we sit here on the fourth of July weekend, they are clearly short of the true, Stanley Cup contender line. Given how much the 2026-27 season means for the Blue Jackets as a franchise, their work is far from done. The tricky part is what can they do to bridge the gap? They have three months to try and figure that out.