It would not surprise anyone if the Columbus Blue Jackets enter the 2025 training camp with what they currently have. Most of their big things seem to have been done.
One and maybe two big questions, however, continue to float over the Blue Jackets when approaching at the end of July. The answer to these questions could reveal what the opening day schedule will look like.
Welcome to 2025-26 Blue Jackets Roster Projection 3.0. If you have missed the first two projections, you can see them below.
When we left this exercise for the last time, the Blue Jackets completed an exchange with the Colorado Avalanche to acquire both Charlie Coyle and Miles Wood. Both players are expected to play a key role in the lower six.
Since then, the blue jackets have made news on several fronts. On top of another signature in their forward ranks, the team must now navigate in a trade request that has become public. Let’s talk about it all.
Ahead
We start with the trade request. Through his agent, Yegor Chinakhov asked for an exchange of the Blue Jackets. At the moment he is still in the team.
There is a chance that Chinakhov starts the 2025-26 season on the Blue Jackets if a suitable trade is not available. That is why we will continue to project him in the line -up until it is otherwise proven.
For Chinakhov he did not like the way things were treated after returning an injury. While he was able to return for a handful of competitions, he was on the outside and looked at the section of the season.
All indications indicate that Chinakhov is completely behind his injury. He is preparing the coming season as he would normally do.
GM Don Waddell is not just going to give Chinakhov away. The player has value, seen what he can bring to the table. Teams probably call the Blue Jackets, perhaps thinking that the price will be lower given both the injury history and the trade request.
That is not the case. Chinakhov’s actions would leave an important opening on the Roster. The blue jackets are not interested in futures. They want a player who can now help their selection.
Since the market is stationary, it is not easy to help now, help now help. That is why Chinakhov’s potential starts the season with the Blue Jackets, is a strong opportunity. As we have discussed earlier, it is in everyone’s interest to make it work for the time being. It is also the easiest solution that is currently available.
Chinakhov was a top-six player for the injury last season. He wants to be in that position again. If he comes to the camp to be ready to work, he could be in that position again.
The reality of the situation in Chinakhov is that he could play different roles in the team. He is now the ultimate yoker sign of the rest of the low season. Until the last clarity is, we will really have no idea of what the opening night schedule could look like.
That is not the only stranger at the moment. Rumors continue to spin that despite the fact that they recently sign a contract, the Blue Jackets may still be interested in the trade in Dmitri Voronkov.
This started back when the Blue Jackets tried to acquire Noah Dobson. Reports suggested that the islanders wanted Voronkov in a potential deal.
When Dobson opted for the Montreal Canadiens in combination with Voronkov who signed his new contract, he was quiet. However, his name is reported as beyond. If that is true, the question is why.
Firstly, the Blue Jackets have already established that they are willing to listen to Voronkov. There are questions about his conditioning given the way his last few seasons ended. Is there sufficient concern that they think this will be a continuous problem?
Large power forwards are not often available. Teams will inquire whether there is even an external chance to close a deal. Voronkov has seasons of 18 and 23 goals in the NHL. On 6-foot-5 and around 230 pounds, he only scratches the surface of how good he could be.
Potential teams who want to act for him also have certainty for the next two seasons. They would also have team control Because he is an RFA after the contract ends.
The only way we feel that Voronkov is being traded is when an impact player comes the other way. Dobson would fit in that description. Although it is very unlikely that a player of Dobson’s caliber is available, you have to wonder whether the Blue Jackets are still worried about a certain part of their team that they want to tackle immediately.
Just like Chinakhov, we will project Voronkov in this line -up because it is under contract.
Away from the Handelsgatter for a moment, the Blue Jackets ISAC Lundstrom signed for a two -year contract. He adds experience and speed to the lower six. He is expected to play in the Sean Kuraly role and is $ 1.2 million cheaper than what Kuraly has made.
Here is how we think the Blue Jackets can look like next evening.
- Yegor Chinakhov – Sean Monahan – Kirill Marchenko
- Boone Jenner – Adam Fantilli – Kent Johnson
- Cole Sillinger – Charlie Coyle – Dmitri Voronkov
- Miles Wood – Isac Lundstrom – Mathieu Olivier
Others in the running are Zach Aston Reese, Jack Williams, Mikael Pyyhtia and Luca del Bel Belluz. There are a number of assumptions here.
Chinakhov could end anywhere in the top names. He has the chance to win that place next to Monahan. His camp will clearly be a central point.
Voronkov could also end in different roles. But that is quite a rule if the blue jackets choose to follow this route.
There is not only the middle depth on all lines, there is also the middle depth on the wings. If someone is thrown out of the spot, Jenner and Fantilli can perform. The same can be said for Sillinger and Coyle.
The blue jackets are also better prepared to be able to cope with an injury when it pops up. Can you really remember for a while that the middle depth was better or so deep in the history of franchis?
The Blue Jackets were among the highest score teams in the NHL in 2024-25. There is no reason to think that they can no longer do it. But let’s see how the Chinakhov and to a lesser extent play the Voronkov situations. Those 12 can easily be the one in the opening night setup come on October 9 in Nashville.
Defense
The defense has been clarified of the last time we spoke. We now know that the Blue Jackets did not extend a qualifying range to Jordan Harris. Since then he has signed with the Boston Bruins.
The blue coats circled back to Ivan Provorov and gave him a seven -year contract. The market conditions forced the team to get the asking price here.
Ivan is signed ✍️
Ivan Provorov and the @Bluejacketsnhl have agreed to a seven -year -old deal! #Nhlfreeagy pic.twitter.com/pmkhrnmtmi
– NHL (@NHL) July 1, 2025
The Blue Jackets also made a few depth -signing sessions when they brought Dysin Mayo and Christian Jaros. They match the role of injury replacement and callup options.
Here is what the defense of the Blue Jackets looks like.
- Zach Werenski – Dante Fabbro
- Denton Mateychuk – Ivan Provorov
- Damon Severerson – Erik Gudbranson
- Jake Christiansen
Others in the running are Mayo, Jaros and Daemon Hunt. Hunt and the Blue Jackets keep talking about a new contract. He received a qualifying offer such as RFA.
What is interesting about the couples above is that the second pair is both left -handed, while the third pair is both right -handed. How coach Dean Evason chooses to use his defenders will be an important storyline of the camp.
This feels like a matchup and game situation. There is some flexibility to make changes, especially if the blue jackets have to close things or open things in search of a goal.
The Blue Jackets must get the version of Damon Severson that makes them a better team. He should not be under that pressure, knowing that both Werenski and Provorov now earn more than he does. He has shown that he can be the best player on the ice on certain nights. Can he and the team now find it more consistent?
Gambling
The Blue Jackets are able to use Elvis Merzlikins and Jet Greaves this season. What is still unknown is who will come up in case of illness or injury?
Waddell said back to the design that he was looking for someone to play that role of being on the monsters and then coming to the Blue Jackets. Nothing has been discussed yet. Teams are reluctant to give up depth, knowing how important that can be.
This is a situation where looking at the distance wire in the training camp can provide the answer. With teams that have to cut their selection, goalkeepers are made available to everyone, including the Blue Jackets. We may not know who fills this position to the center of the training camp, unless there is a little earlier.
Regarding when we will publish schedule projection 4.0, this depends on whether something happens between now and the end of August. If not, the next projection will fall at the start of the training camp.
In the end, the blue jackets are usually set. As soon as a few persistent questions are answered, we have the full picture of what the Blue Jackets from 2025-26 will look like.
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