When the 2024-25 season ended for the Columbus Blue Jackets, the message from everyone inside the locker room was they fell short of their goal. Although they had a good season that saw them in the running for the playoffs until Game 82, it wasn’t good enough.
No one was happy. With that in mind, the thought was some significant changes would come to the roster to help get over the hump and into the playoffs.
Most everyone pointed to the defense and goaltending as the key areas where change was needed. GM Don Waddell agreed with the assessment at exit interviews saying that was a fair statement. He reiterated they’re keeping tabs on the D-market to see if there was an opportunity to improve.
The Blue Jackets tried a few things. They fell short on Noah Dobson. Rasmus Andersson reportedly wasn’t ready to talk about an extension. With potential upgrades all falling through, it left Waddell no choice but to circle back to the players he knew best.
Dante Fabbro signed a four-year extension. Ivan Provorov signed a big seven-year extension. Suddenly, the blue line was getting the band back together again.
But wait. Wasn’t there supposed to be changes in that area? The goals against was clearly an issue all season. A game or two in the other direction and the Blue Jackets make the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
In the end through the first day of NHL Free Agency, the Blue Jackets made one thing clear in their approach in bringing back their own. While there were some changes to the forward ranks, the team is making a big bet on themselves in 2025-26. They believe in what they have.
A Special Group
The message coming from the Blue Jackets this week from Waddell and the players who signed extensions was they have a special group in the locker room. There is a confidence that they can get over the top.
Waddell’s approach has remained the same since he’s been a manager in the league. He doesn’t make change just for the sake of change. He realizes how tight a group these Blue Jackets are. His early approach signals a belief in what they could become.
“I always say you don’t make changes for the sake of making change. You make change to try to make your hockey team better,” Waddell said on Tuesday. “We felt we did that with a few changes we made. Anytime guys can be together, especially this group. This is a special group, obviously. Everything that happened last year and how they stuck together and how they…
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