RSS Blue Jackets Team Notes

BREAKING: Dean Evason, Steve McCarthy fired; Rick Bowness hired as Blue Jackets head coach

Stunning news this afternoon, following a regulation win at Utah (but just a 1-3-0 record on a four game western road trip), as Columbus Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell relieved head coach Dean Evason and assistant coach Steve McCarthy of their duties. Rick Bowness takes over as head coach. Bowness most notably took Dallas to the Stanley Cup Final. I hate to see Evason go because of what he did…

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Source: https://www.jacketscannon.com/break...ick-bowness-hired-as-blue-jackets-head-coach/
 
Gameday #46: The Bowness Era begins

Tuesday, January 13, 2026 – 7:00 PM ET Nationwide Arena – Columbus, Ohio TV: FDSNOH; Radio: 97.1 FM Calgary Flames (19-22-4, 42 points, 7th Pacific, 13th West) at Columbus Blue Jackets (19-19-7, 45 points, 8th Metro, 16th East) A new era of Blue Jackets hockey begins tonight, with Rick Bowness taking over as head coach. Between now and the Olympic break there are 12 games…

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Source: https://www.jacketscannon.com/gameday-46-the-bowness-era-begins/
 
Gameday #47: Those who can do, those who Canuck…

Thursday, January 15, 2025 – 7:00 PM ET Nationwide Arena – Columbus, Ohio TV: FDSNOH; also CW 53 in Columbus and other broadcast channels in the viewing area; Radio: 97.1 FM Vancouver Canucks (16-25-5, 37 points, 8th Pacific, 16th West) at Columbus Blue Jackets (20-19-7, 47 points, 7th Metro, 15th East) The Jackets beat Calgary 5-3 to record a regulation win in their first…

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Source: https://www.jacketscannon.com/gameday-47-those-who-can-do-those-who-canuck/
 
Gameday #48: Now it gets real

Saturday, January 17, 2026 – 7:00 PM ET PPG Paints Arena – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania TV: FDSNOH; Radio: 97.1 FM Columbus Blue Jackets (21-19-7, 49 points, 7th Metro, 15th East) at Pittsburgh Penguins (22-14-10, 54 points, 3rd Metro, 8th East) On the heels of three straight wins, including two in regulation under new head coach Rick Bowness, the Blue Jackets seek revenge…

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Source: https://www.jacketscannon.com/gameday-48-now-it-gets-real/
 
Gameday #49: No place like home

Tuesday, January 20, 2026 – 7:00 PM ET Nationwide Arena – Columbus, Ohio TV: FDSNOH; Radio: 93.3 FM Ottawa Senators (22-19-7, 51 points, 8th Atlantic, 14th East) at Columbus Blue Jackets (22-19-7, 51 points, 7th Metro, 15th East) These teams are like the Spiderman pointing meme. It’s important to win this one and leap another team in the Eastern conference standings.

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Source: https://www.jacketscannon.com/gameday-49-no-place-like-home/
 
Gameday #50: Mush returns, Coyle hits 1000

Thursday, January 22, 2026 – 7:00 PM ET Nationwide Arena – Columbus, Ohio TV: FDSNOH; Radio: 97.1 FM Dallas Stars (28-13-9, 65 points, 2nd Central, 2nd West) at Columbus Blue Jackets (22-20-7, 51 points, 7th Metro, 15th East) After a lackluster effort against Ottawa on Tuesday, the Jackets look to rebound tonight against a Dallas Stars team that they beat 5-1 in Dallas…

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Source: https://www.jacketscannon.com/gameday-50-mush-returns-coyle-hits-1000/
 
Gameday #51: Red-hot Lightning visit frigid Columbus

Saturday, January 24, 2026 – 7:00 PM ET Nationwide Arena – Columbus, Ohio TV: FDSNOH; Radio: 97.1 FM Tampa Bay Lightning (32-13-4, 68 points, 1st Atlantic, 1st East) at Columbus Blue Jackets (23-20-7, 53 points, 7th Metro, 15th East) On the heels of a 1-0 shutout of Dallas, the Jackets will stick with the same lineup. Tampa is missing key players such as Victor Hedman…

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Source: https://www.jacketscannon.com/gameday-51-red-hot-lightning-visit-frigid-columbus/
 
Gameday #52: Foul, fetid, fuming, foggy, filthy Philadelphia

Wednesday, January 28, 2026 – 7:30 PM ET Nationwide Arena – Columbus, Ohio TV: TNT, TruTV, HBO Max; Radio: 97.1 FM Philadelphia Flyers (24-18-9, 57 points, 4th Metro, 10th East) at Columbus Blue Jackets (24-20-7, 55 points, 7th Metro, 14th East) Big roster shakeup as Denton Mateychuk AND Miles Wood will both return tonight. To make room, yesterday Zach Aston-Reese and…

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Source: https://www.jacketscannon.com/gameday-52-foul-fetid-fuming-foggy-filthy-philadelphia/
 
Gameday #53:

Friday, January 30, 2026 – 8:30 PM ET United Center – Chicago, Illinois TV: FDSNOH & CW53; Radio: 97.1 FM Columbus Blue Jackets (25-20-7, 57 points, 6th Metro, 12th East) at Chicago Blackhawks (21-24-9, 51 points, 6th Central, 12th West) For the first time, we have a pope who watched Stan Mikita play. The Blackhawks were a surprisingly successful team early in the…

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Source: https://www.jacketscannon.com/gameday-53/
 
Gameday #54: Last game out west

Saturday, January 31, 2026 – 7:00 PM ET Enterprise Center – St. Louis, Missouri TV: FDSNOH; Radio: 97.1 FM Columbus Blue Jackets (26-20-7 59 points, 4th Metro, 10th East) at St. Louis Blues (20-25-9, 49 points, 8th Central, 14th West) This is the last game the Jackets are playing outside of the Eastern time zone. Weird, right?

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Source: https://www.jacketscannon.com/gameday-54-last-game-out-west/
 
Gameday #55: Dance with the Devils

Tuesday, February 3, 2026 – 7:00 PM ET Prudential Center – Newark, New Jersey TV: FDSNOH; Radio: 97.1 FM Columbus Blue Jackets (27-20-7, 61 points, 5th Metro, 10th East) at New Jersey Devils (28-25-2, 58 points, 7th Metro, 15th East) The Devils are just 3 points behind the Blue Jackets (but have played an extra game), and yet the vibe feels totally different there.

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Source: https://www.jacketscannon.com/gameday-55-dance-with-the-devils/
 
Gameday #55: Empty the tank

Wednesday, February 4, 2026 – 7:00 PM ET Nationwide Arena – Columbus, Ohio TV: FDSNOH; Radio: 97.1 FM Chicago Blackhawks (22-25-9, 53 points, 6th Central, 12th West) at Columbus Blue Jackets (28-20-7, 63 points, 4th Metro, 9th East) A 3-0 win in New Jersey capped off a very successful 3 game road trip. Now, just one more game at home before all of the Jackets (except Zach…

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Source: https://www.jacketscannon.com/gameday-55-empty-the-tank/
 
Nice little run the Jackets have been putting together here. Going 3-0 on that road trip and climbing up to 4th in the Metro is pretty encouraging, especially with how tight things are in the standings right now.

Getting Mateychuk and Wood back in the lineup at the same time was good timing. Always helps to have bodies back when you're grinding through this part of the schedule. That 3-0 shutout against Jersey was clean - those divisional games matter so much when you're only separated by a few points.

Interesting that this Chicago game is the last one before the break too. Back-to-back against the Hawks within a week, should be a good chance to bank some points before everyone scatters for All-Star weekend.

The Metro is such a logjam right now. Columbus sitting at 63 points in 4th but you look down and Jersey's right there at 58. No room to coast at all.
 
2026 Olympic Preview: Werenski, Merzlikins representing the CBJ in Milan-Cortina

For the first time in 12 years, NHL players will be representing their countries at the Winter Olympics. True best-on-best hockey is back, folks. Two Blue Jackets made their respective national teams. Defenseman Zach Werenski will lead the American blue line, along with Quinn Hughes of the Minnesota Wild. He’s had a Norris-caliber season with 20 goals and 62 points in 52 games so far.

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Source: https://www.jacketscannon.com/2026-...likins-representing-the-cbj-in-milan-cortina/
 
Practice Week Open Thread: How are the Blue Jackets better under Bowness?

By popular request, here is an open thread post for all non-Olympics hockey news. There hasn’t been anything to report on the CBJ front so far. Since the end of camp, Don Waddell has said that any contract extension discussions would wait for the break. Presumably those talks have begun to happen, but nothing official has come of it. Perhaps with the players all back in town this week…

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Source: https://www.jacketscannon.com/pract...ow-are-the-blue-jackets-better-under-bowness/
 
Gameday #57: Back to Work

Thursday, February 26, 2026 – 7:00 PM ET TD Garden – Boston, Massachusetts TV: FDSNOH; Radio: 97.1 FM Columbus Blue Jackets (29-20-7, 65 points, 5th Metro, 10th East) at Boston Bruins (32-20-5, 69 points, 5th Atlantic, 8th East) What a break! The Olympics saw Team USA take two golds in ice hockey for the first time. The women bulldozed their way to the final…

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Source: https://www.jacketscannon.com/gameday-57-back-to-work/
 
Gameday #58: Welcome home

Saturday, February 28, 2026 – 6:00 PM ET Nationwide Arena – Columbus, Ohio TV: FDSNOH; Radio: 97.1 FM New York Islanders (33-21-5, 71 points, 3rd Metro, 8th East) at Columbus Blue Jackets (29-21-7, 65 points, 5th Metro, 10th East) A strong effort in Boston, but the Jackets got goalied by Joonas Korpisalo of all people. Ugh. Another big game tonight…

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Source: https://www.jacketscannon.com/gameday-58-welcome-home/
 
Gameday #59: Ragdolls

Monday, March 2, 2026 – 7:00 PM ET Madison Square Garden – New York, New York TV: FDSNOH; Radio: 97.1 FM Columbus Blue Jackets (29-21-8, 66 points, 5th Metro, 10th East) at New York Rangers (23-29-7, 53 points, 8th Metro, 16th East) An early 2-0 lead turns into a 4-3 OT loss to one of the teams we’re chasing. Not great! The Rangers are bad, and have thrown in the…

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Source: https://www.jacketscannon.com/gameday-59-ragdolls/
 
Game #60: Prey

Tuesday, March 3, 2026 – 7:00 PM ET Nationwide Arena – Columbus, Ohio TV: FDSNOH; Radio: 97.1 FM Nashville Predators (27-25-8, 62 points, 5th Central, 10th West) at Columbus Blue Jackets (30-21-8, 68 points, 5th Metro, 10th East) Sorry, day job got busy so we’re going with a quick post for this back-to-back. The Blue Jackets got two important points last night…

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Source: https://www.jacketscannon.com/game-60-prey/
 
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