I just returned from vacation but for the most part, NHL news is still on break. Here’s a fresh thread to discuss whatever topics may come up, or whatever CBJ thoughts cross your minds.
Stay tuned later this week for the Top 25 Under 25 ballot, where you all will get a chance to rank the best young players in the Blue Jackets organization.
In the meantime, here are some bits of news from the last few weeks:
Schedule Release
On July 16, the 2025-26 schedule was released. The Jackets will once again start on the road, with games in Nashville and Minnesota. The home opener is Monday, October 13 against the New Jersey Devils.
For awhile now, teams have made special videos to announce their schedules, and the Jackets’ entry this year is one of their best. I’m a little surprised it took this long for them to make the Jackets/Jackass connection.
You can get that Stinger logo on a t-shirt now, and when I got the email announcement yesterday, that was an instant buy.
Yegor Chinakhov
The Russian winger made it known publicly that he would like to be traded, citing dissatisfaction with his role on the team and a lack of communication from coach Dean Evason. Don Waddell has acknowledged the request and confirmed he has had discussions with other teams, but that he expects Chinakhov to report to camp if no team is willing to provide the right return.
I am a bit concerned about the Evason side of things. I had heard that he was also barely communicative with Kirill Marchenko as well, though Marchy related this in a way that indicated he had no issue with that. Does Chinakhov need a coach who is more hands-on?
As for the player, I want to keep him because that shot is so special. When he is on, like he was to start last season (on a line with Marchenko and Sean Monahan), he’s great. The trouble is he has struggled to stay healthy, and he has a tendency to go cold for stretches, at which point he is near unplayable. That was the case last season when he returned from a long absence due to a back injury. Should he have been scratched? Probably not. Was he playing well enough to get top 6 minutes? Nope.
RFAs
There are still some intriguing restricted free agents out there who remain unsigned. Most teams have enough cap space to match any offer sheet, but there’s still room to get creative, or perhaps work out a trade instead. Forwards that are available who scored 40 or more points include Marco Rossi (MIN), Mason McTavish (ANA), and Alex Laferriere (LAK). In the case of Rossi, he and the Wild appear to be far apart at the moment. McTavish could be available because the Ducks may value other young centers like Leo Carlsson and Cutter Gauthier over him.
Mikael “Tuna” Pyyhtia is the the last RFA the Jackets need to re-sign. He already received an offer sheet prior to the World Championships (for insurance purposes). I think this will get done before camp, but I’m curious to see whether he gets a one-way deal or not. He’s penciled in for the Monsters but I think he has the chance to play his way onto the NHL roster in camp again.