Sawchenko spent the 2023-24 season with the Canucks' organization, where he played the entire season in the AHL. The 26-year-old netminder was 4-1-0 with a 2.12 GAA and .924 SV% in six regular season games with Abbotsford (AHL) and was 2-4 with a 2.96 GAA and .898 SV% in six AHL playoff games. Expect him to start the 2024-25 season in Cleveland (AHL).
After two years in Colorado, Johnson returns to the Blue Jackets where he played from 2012 to 2018. At age 37, Johnson will likely be nothing more than a No.6 or No.7 defenseman in Columbus this season. He had 16 points (3G / 13A) in 80 games a season ago.
Gambrell spent the entire 2024 season with the Toronto Marlies (AHL), scoring 14 goals with 22 assists (36 points) in 66 games. Gambrell provides the Blue Jackets with some organizational centre depth but will likely start the year in the AHL. The 27-year-old has plenty of NHL experience, playing 233 career games for the Sharks and Senators.
After three successful seasons in Cleveland (AHL), Columbus has signed Cole Clayton to a one-year, entry-level contract on Monday. The 24-year-old joined Cleveland as an undrafted free agent in 2021-22 and had five goals and 20 points in 59 games with Cleveland in 2023-24.
Cleveland (AHL) kept some of its depth on Monday as Columbus re-signed Owen Sillenger to a one-year, two-way contract. The 26-year-old son of Mike Sillinger has yet to make his NHL debut in any of his three AHL seasons but had 11 goals and 40 points in 69 games played with Cleveland in 2023-24.
Detroit will bring back Christian Fischer for a second season after the 27-year-old signed a one-year contract extension worth $1,125,000 on Monday. The 27-year-old joined Detroit in 2023-24 after seven seasons in Arizona and had five goals, 19 points and 36 PIMs in 79 games played last year.
Vegas built on their overall depth on Monday as they signed 29-year-old Zach Aston-Reese to a one-year, two-way contract. The travelling forward will join his fifth team in eight NHL seasons after only appearing in three games for Detroit in 2023-24.
Columbus made their big splash on Monday by signing 29-year-old Sean Monahan to a five-year deal worth $27.5 million ($5.5M AAV). The 11-year-old veteran is joining his fourth NHL team in Columbus after putting up his highest point production (59 Pts) since 2018-19 with both Montreal and Winnipeg in 2023-24.
Kunin completed a second successful full season with San Jose in 2023-24 and earned himself a one-year contract extension worth $2.75M on Sunday. The 26-year-old centre surpassed 10+ goals for the fourth time in his seven-year career in 2023-24 as he ended with 11 goals, 18 points, 83 PIMs and a -30 plus/minus in 77 games played.
Columbus made their first re-signing of the offseason on Friday as they signed Yegor Chinakhov to a two-year, $4.2 million contract extension ($2,100,000 AAV). The 23-year-old took a massive step forward in 2023-24, with 16 goals, 29 points and 110 SOG in 53 games played.
Jakub Lauko will be a healthy scratch in game three, allowing van Riemsdyk to make his series debut. The 34-year-old van Riemsdyk had an up-and-down 2023-24 campaign, scoring 38 points (11G / 27A) in 71 contests.
Pinelli was the 114th overall pick of the Blue Jackets in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. The 19-year-old forward had an impressive season with the Ottawa 67's (OHL), scoring 82 points (48G / 34A) in 68 games.
With the Red Wings season now concluded, Aston-Reese has been reassigned to the Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL). Aston-Reese played three games with the Red Wings this season but spent most of the 2023-24 campaign in the AHL, scoring 29 points (14G / 15A) in 59 games for Grand Rapids.
van Riemsdyk was a healthy scratch for Boston's previous two games but will be drawn into the lineup on Tuesday as he takes the spot of Johnny Beecher. The 34-year-old veteran left-winger has played well despite averaging his lowest TOI (13:29) since his rookie season in 2009-2010, with 11 goals, 38 points, 140 SOG and 20 PIMs in 70 games played.
With Montreal on the second half of a back-to-back Jordan Harris will be a healthy scratch as Jayden Struble returns to the lineup. The 23-year-old's third NHL season will come to an end with three goals, 14 points, 43 SOG, 22 PIMs and a -5 plus/minus after 56 games played.
Voronkov will not play on Tuesday due to an illness and will be replaced by Luca Del Bel Belluz. The 23-year-old Voronkov has 34 points (18G / 16A) in 75 games this season.
Del Bel Belluz was the 44th overall pick of the Blue Jackets in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. The 20-year-old has scored 30 points (9G / 21A) in 55 games with the Cleveland Monsters (AHL) this season.
The Blue Jackets play their final game of the season on Tuesday and will turn to Greaves between the pipes. Greaves has struggled, allowing four or more goals in three straight (0-3-0), including six goals on 37 shots (.838 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 6-4 loss to the Nashville Predators. The Blue Jackets enter action as +224 road underdogs on Tuesday against the Carolina Hurricanes
The Blue Jackets play their final game of the season on Tuesday and will likely turn to Greaves between the pipes. Greaves has struggled, allowing four or more goals in three straight (0-3-0), including six goals on 37 shots (.838 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 6-4 loss to the Nashville Predators. The Blue Jackets enter action as +224 road underdogs on Tuesday against the Carolina Hurricanes.
