Gameday #1: A new campaign begins

Thursday, October 9, 2025 – 8:00 PM ET
Bridgestone Arena – Nashville, Tennessee
TV: FDSNOH; Radio: 97.1 FM

Columbus Blue Jackets

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Nashville Predators

After a long and relatively quiet season, it’s time for real hockey again! The NHL season is two days old already, but this is the first game for these two teams. Can the Nashville Predators rebound from a disastrous season that followed an aggressive off-season? Can the Columbus Blue Jackets build on the pleasantly surprising season they had last year?

Player to Watch

Isac Lundestrom

An underrated piece of business in the off-season was the free agent signing of Isac Lundestrom, a depth center from the Anaheim Ducks. He has played 337 NHL games and recorded a career high of 16 goals in 2021-22, on a 19.3 shooting percentage. It remains to be seen how much offense he can produce this season, but I liked the speed we saw from him in pre-season. That’s an extra element that we lacked the last four years with Sean Kuraly.

Jackets Notes

Head Coach Dean Evason remained coy on Wednesday regarding the starting goaltender for this game. Nevertheless, it remains probable that the goalie that does not start tonight will start on Saturday in Minnesota. Our money is on Jet Greaves getting the nod tonight … After an off-season trade request, Yegor Chinakhov begins this season as a healthy scratch. What?? I thought Chinny had a good preseason, and deserves to be in the lineup in a top 9 role. I won’t panic too much since it’s just one game, but hopefully Evason makes some tweaks in these early weeks to lines that make more sense.

The Blue Jackets announced on Wednesday that longtime player Cam Atkinson will officially retire next Thursday. As a longtime Atkinson fan, congratulations, Cam! Glad to see him retire as a Blue Jacket, and settle in Columbus long-term with his family.

Site Update

First of all, apologies for the sporadic posting in the off-season. It was a busy summer with day jobs, vacations, and family stuff. Now is the time we hope to get back into the regular schedule of, primarily, the gameday coverage. But also the conclusion of the 2025 Top 25 Under 25 as well as plans we have for commemorating the 25th season of Columbus Blue Jackets hockey.

If you would like to be part of the crew here, please reach out to thecannon@forhockeyfans.com or thepaledragon@gmail.com with a brief resume and writing sample.

The Other Bench

After an eventful summer in 2024, the Preds entered the season with high expectations, only to fall on their face despite all of the high-priced talent they acquired. They were quieter this year, but still have many of the same top-dollar players. Will guys like Ryan O’Reilly and Steven Stamkos be able to carry this team back into the playoffs well into their 30s? What about goaltender Juuse Saros?

2024-25 Stats

Roster Projections

Columbus Blue Jackets

Nashville Predators