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Summer Coolers – New Jersey Devils The New Jersey Devils enter 2026-27 as one of the NHL’s biggest question marks. After finishing seventh in the Metropolitan Division and missing the playoffs, New Jersey changed general managers, traded Jacob Markstrom, and now appears prepared to enter the season without a proven No. 1 goaltender. New GM Sunny Mehta brings an analytics-heavy background, while Sheldon Keefe could find himself coaching for his job. Neil Smith and Vic Morren examine whether Jack Hughes can finally stay healthy for a full season, whether Timo Meier can deliver the production New Jersey expected, and why the Devils may need almost everything to go right to return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs. IN THIS EPISODE: [00:00:00] New Jersey finishes seventh in the Metropolitan Division, 13th in the Eastern Conference, and 21st overall, missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs after entering the season with much higher expectations. [00:00:25] The Devils have now reached the playoffs only three times since appearing in the 2012 Stanley Cup Final, with just one series victory during that span—against the New York Rangers three years ago. [00:00:45] Nearly every important team metric declines. New Jersey finishes 27th offensively and 18th defensively, while the power play falls from third to 13th and the penalty kill drops from second to 17th. [00:01:00] Sunny Mehta takes over as general manager from Tom Fitzgerald, while Sheldon Keefe prepares for his third season behind the Devils’ bench. [00:01:20] Mehta brings one of the NHL’s more unusual résumés to the GM position, combining a data-science and analytics background with his experience as a former professional poker player. [00:01:40] Neil has no doubt that Mehta can run an NHL organization. The real question is whether his approach can outperform the competition and turn New Jersey back into a contender. [00:02:00] Neil’s biggest concern is immediately clear: the Devils appear ready to enter the season without a true No. 1 goaltender. [00:02:20] New Jersey adds David Rittich after his stint as the Islanders’ backup, but Neil views him as another depth option rather than the answer in goal. [00:02:40] Jake Allen currently appears positioned to receive the No. 1 opportunity, while Nico Daws may finally have his best chance to establish himself after several years of being discussed as part of New Jersey’s future. [00:03:00] The uncertainty follows New Jersey’s decision to trade Jacob Markstrom to the Florida Panthers along with Angus Crookshank. [00:03:20] In return, the Devils acquire Evan Rodrigues, Jesper Boqvist, and Ben Steeves, adding three forwards to a lineup that needs more offensive support. [00:03:40] Rodrigues has demonstrated the ability to play significant minutes, including first-line opportunities in Florida, while Boqvist and Steeves project more as supporting forwards. [00:04:00] Vic questions whether those additions are substantial enough for a team that already struggled to distinguish itself offensively last season. [00:04:20] Jack Hughes and Dawson Mercer remain important pieces, but Timo Meier’s production since arriving from San Jose has been a major disappointment compared with expectations. [00:04:40] New Jersey’s additions may make the roster deeper, but Vic does not believe they significantly change the overall ceiling of the team. [00:05:00] One free-agent signing Vic does like is Arseni Gritsyuk, who receives a three-year contract worth $3.25 million per season after producing 13 goals and 31 points last season. [00:05:20] Even with that addition, the overriding feeling is that a lot must go right for the Devils if they are going to return to the postseason. [00:05:40] Sheldon Keefe could also be under significant pressure because he was hired by the previous administration rather than Mehta’s new front office. [00:06:00] After a disappointing season, Keefe will be heavily scrutinized. A slow start could put the Devils’ coaching situation among the NHL’s early-season storylines. [00:06:20] Neil returns to the goaltending issue as the biggest concern. He likes the Rodrigues acquisition and believes New Jersey has useful supporting forwards, but does not see those players dramatically moving the needle. [00:06:40] The contrast with expectations from only a year earlier is striking. New Jersey entered last season being discussed as a potential challenger for first place in the division. [00:07:00] Injuries to Jack Hughes played a significant role in the disappointing season, making his ability to remain healthy one of the most important variables for 2026-27. [00:07:20] Neil believes New Jersey needs a full season of superstar-level hockey from Hughes if the Devils are going to become a playoff team again. [00:07:40] The roster also loses two promising players when Simon Nemec and Maxim Tsyplakov are traded to Calgary for three draft picks, giving New Jersey additional future assets but sacrificing young talent. [00:08:00] Paul Cotter signs with Vancouver after not receiving a qualifying offer, while Zack MacEwen joins Toronto and Dennis Cholowski signs with the New York Rangers. [00:08:20] New Jersey still has prospects who could become part of the solution, including 2024 first-round selection Anton Silayev and defenseman Seamus Casey, who appeared in two games for the Devils last season. [00:08:40] Goaltending prospect Mikhail Yegorov also represents an intriguing future option at a position that has become one of the organization’s most immediate concerns. [00:09:00] Luke Hughes will be expected to continue developing into a major force on the blue line, but the greatest pressure remains on his brother Jack. [00:09:20] Neil believes Jack Hughes must put his Olympic success behind him and turn his complete attention toward delivering a healthy, productive season for the Devils. [00:09:40] Staying out of the trainer’s room and producing elite-level hockey for an entire season could be essential not only to New Jersey’s playoff hopes but also to helping Sheldon Keefe navigate what could become a very difficult year. [00:10:00] New Jersey still possesses high-end talent, but questions in goal, uncertainty surrounding the coaching staff, and the need for its stars to deliver consistently make the Devils one of the NHL’s most difficult teams to project entering 2026-27.
Summer Coolers – Edmonton Oilers After consecutive trips to the Stanley Cup Final, the Edmonton Oilers took a major step backward, finishing second in the Pacific before losing to Anaheim in six games in the opening round. The early exit cost Kris Knoblauch his job and opened the door for Mike Babcock’s return to an NHL bench. Neil Smith and Vic Morren examine whether Babcock can change Edmonton’s structure, the significant questions surrounding Frederik Andersen and the goaltending, a revamped defense without Darnell Nurse, and the lack of depth behind Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. With McDavid potentially approaching unrestricted free agency in two years, the pressure is mounting for Edmonton to prove it can build another championship-caliber roster around him. IN THIS EPISODE: [00:00:00] Edmonton finishes second in the Pacific Division but suffers a major postseason disappointment, losing to Anaheim in six games in the opening round after reaching the Stanley Cup Final in each of the previous two seasons. [00:00:25] The first-round exit costs Kris Knoblauch his job, and General Manager Stan Bowman makes a dramatic coaching change by hiring Mike Babcock. [00:00:45] Babcock returns to NHL coaching for the first time since his tenure with Toronto ended, following the controversy surrounding his brief hiring by Columbus. [00:01:00] Vic believes Babcock could provide an immediate jolt, but he does not see enough personnel improvement to believe Edmonton is automatically headed back to the Stanley Cup Final. [00:01:20] Neil identifies depth as one of Edmonton’s biggest problems. Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Zach Hyman remain elite pieces, but the quality of the roster drops quickly behind the stars. [00:01:40] The Oilers attempt to address another longstanding concern by signing Frederik Andersen, but Neil immediately questions whether Edmonton’s goaltending will be strong enough to support another championship run. [00:02:00] Andersen signs a one-year, $1 million contract and joins a goaltending group that also includes Tristan Jarry. [00:02:20] Edmonton also acquires Devon Levi and a 2028 seventh-round pick from Buffalo in exchange for a 2028 third-round selection, giving the Oilers another potential option in goal. [00:02:40] Vic believes Andersen will face a much different challenge in Edmonton. The quality and quantity of shots he sees could increase substantially compared with his years playing behind Carolina’s structure. [00:03:00] Edmonton has traditionally played a more wide-open style, raising the possibility that Babcock will attempt to make the Oilers more defensively responsible in order to protect his goaltenders. [00:03:20] Neil identifies Andersen’s injury history as another major concern. If Andersen misses significant time, the Oilers could quickly be forced to rely more heavily on their other goaltending options. [00:03:40] Levi possesses upside and could eventually become an important piece, but Neil still considers Edmonton’s overall goaltending situation a major question mark. [00:04:00] Babcock himself represents another unknown. He has been away from NHL coaching for an extended period, and Neil notes the controversies surrounding the end of his previous NHL opportunities. [00:04:20] The discussion turns to how Babcock will connect with a different generation of players and whether his approach can successfully translate to Edmonton’s current locker room. [00:04:40] Babcock will also inherit a revamped defense after Edmonton trades Darnell Nurse and his $9.5 million contract to San Jose. [00:05:00] The Oilers receive defensemen Shakir Mukhamadullin and Zack Sharp in the Nurse deal, creating a significant change to the composition of Edmonton’s blue line. [00:05:20] Edmonton further addresses the defense by signing Ryan Shea from Pittsburgh to a five-year contract worth $4 million per season. [00:05:40] The Oilers retain restricted free agents Spencer Stastney and Colton Dach while also keeping several other depth pieces on the roster. [00:06:00] Jason Dickinson and Connor Murphy arrive from Chicago, while Kasperi Kapanen and Max Jones remain part of Edmonton’s supporting cast. [00:06:20] Matthew Joseph also joins from Los Angeles, giving Babcock another veteran forward option as Edmonton attempts to strengthen the lineup around its superstars. [00:06:40] Among the departures, Calvin Pickard signs with Minnesota, while Jack Roslovic leaves Edmonton for the Toronto Maple Leafs. [00:07:00] Edmonton will need contributions from its younger players. Josh Samanski appeared in 24 games last season, while Isaac Howard played 29 and now faces pressure to prove he can establish himself permanently in the lineup. [00:07:20] Forward Quinn Hutson is another prospect to watch as the Oilers search internally for affordable young talent capable of strengthening their depth. [00:07:40] Despite Edmonton still having McDavid, Draisaitl, Hyman, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Vic questions whether the overall roster is strong enough for Babcock to turn the Oilers back into a legitimate Stanley Cup contender. [00:08:00] Neil shares those doubts. He remembers Babcock’s championship success in Detroit but points out that those teams featured experienced veteran leaders and a very different generation of NHL players. [00:08:20] How Babcock adapts to the modern NHL—and how Edmonton’s players respond to him—becomes one of the league’s most fascinating coaching storylines entering the season. [00:08:40] The biggest long-term issue remains McDavid. With the superstar potentially reaching unrestricted free agency in two years, Edmonton has limited time to convince him that the organization can surround him with another championship-caliber roster. [00:09:00] Neil worries that if Edmonton does not significantly improve the team around McDavid, the captain could eventually decide his best opportunity to win lies somewhere else. [00:09:20] Vic asks whether Edmonton could benefit from a longer offseason after two consecutive trips to the Stanley Cup Final. The additional recovery time could help players heal, condition, and prepare physically for another season. [00:09:40] Neil acknowledges that the extra rest could help individual players, particularly those dealing with injuries or fatigue, but he returns to the larger issue of the roster itself. [00:10:00] The episode concludes with Neil saying he simply does not see Edmonton improving as a team this season. The Oilers still have some of the greatest offensive talent in hockey, but questions about depth, goaltending, coaching, and McDavid’s future make 2026-27 a potentially defining season for the franchise.
Summer Coolers – Detroit Red Wings The Detroit Red Wings enter 2026-27 with more uncertainty than momentum. Todd McLellan is heading into another season behind the bench, but Detroit still does not have a general manager, captain Dylan Larkin has requested a trade, and the franchise now owns the NHL’s longest active playoff drought at 10 seasons. Neil Smith and Vic Morren examine whether the Red Wings have enough talent to avoid sliding backward, why their late-season collapses remain such a major concern, and how unusual it is for an Original Six organization to be searching externally for a new GM this late in the summer. IN THIS EPISODE: [00:00:00] Todd McLellan prepares for another season in Detroit, but the biggest story surrounding the Red Wings is happening off the ice. The organization still does not have a general manager, while captain Dylan Larkin has requested a trade. [00:00:25] Neil questions whether Larkin and his agent are waiting to see who Detroit hires as GM before determining what happens next. [00:00:45] The timing is especially concerning. Detroit is already deep into the summer, yet significant organizational decisions remain unresolved heading toward training camp. [00:01:00] Larkin’s future becomes the biggest immediate issue. He has asked to be traded and reportedly provided the organization with a short list of teams he would accept. [00:01:20] Steve Yzerman was reportedly unhappy with the request while he was still serving as GM, but the situation remains unresolved. The question is whether the Michigan native ultimately returns to the only NHL franchise he has known. [00:01:40] Detroit finishes sixth in the Atlantic Division with 92 points and 16th overall, extending its playoff drought to 10 consecutive seasons. [00:02:00] The Red Wings have also failed to win a playoff series since defeating Anaheim in the opening round in 2013. [00:02:20] Detroit’s major statistical categories remain underwhelming. The offense ranks 22nd, the defense is tied for 19th, the power play finishes 12th, and the penalty kill sits 23rd. [00:02:40] The only notable trade addition is bottom-six forward Keegan Kolesar, acquired from Vegas for two draft picks. [00:03:00] Patrick Kane departs for the Chicago Blackhawks, while Detroit adds Victor Arvidsson from Boston. Vic still sees many of the same problems that have prevented the Red Wings from breaking through. [00:03:20] Alex DeBrincat continues to provide strong offensive production, but there does not appear to be enough surrounding talent to significantly change Detroit’s trajectory. [00:03:40] One recurring issue is Detroit’s inability to finish seasons strongly. The Red Wings have repeatedly put themselves into playoff contention before struggling badly during March and losing momentum when it matters most. [00:04:00] Neil believes Detroit essentially spent the summer treading water and could actually move backward in the standings. [00:04:20] He does not see the Red Wings ending the drought in what would be their 11th consecutive season without playoff hockey. [00:04:40] The uncertainty surrounding Larkin makes the situation even more difficult because he is not only Detroit’s captain but arguably one of its most important players. [00:05:00] Detroit will be hoping Marco Kasper takes another significant step and can provide more offensive support alongside DeBrincat and the rest of the forward group. [00:05:20] The discussion turns back to Detroit’s search for a new general manager, with the organization hiring an outside firm to assist in identifying candidates. [00:05:40] Neil finds that approach surprising for an Original Six franchise with such deep hockey roots and decades of organizational experience under the Ilitch family. [00:06:00] He believes Detroit should already have enough experienced hockey people around the organization to help identify the right GM without relying heavily on an external search firm. [00:06:20] Neil specifically mentions longtime organizational figures who could assist, along with the possibility that Steve Yzerman could still provide input if his relationship with ownership remains intact. [00:06:40] The fact that Detroit could reach late August without a general manager strikes Neil as particularly unusual given how much work still needs to be completed before the season. [00:07:00] Vic believes the roster is weak enough that Detroit could even drift toward the NHL Draft Lottery conversation if things go badly. [00:07:20] Neil pushes back slightly on the idea that Detroit will become a true bottom-feeder because the Red Wings still possess several high-end players capable of keeping the team competitive. [00:07:40] The larger concern is the mood surrounding the franchise. Neil sees a frustrated and increasingly angry fan base that was already unhappy even when franchise legend Steve Yzerman was running the team. [00:08:00] Neil does not expect Little Caesars Arena to be an especially happy environment if Detroit struggles again this season. [00:08:20] John Gibson provided solid goaltending after arriving from Anaheim, while Moritz Seider remains one of the NHL’s top defensemen and an important cornerstone for the franchise. [00:08:40] Even with those pieces, Neil and Vic agree that Detroit does not have enough collectively when compared with the stronger teams in the Atlantic Division and across the NHL. [00:09:00] Neil closes by saying he would personally like to see Detroit return to the playoff mix because of his own history with the organization, but he simply cannot envision that happening with the roster and uncertainty currently surrounding the club.
Summer Coolers – Dallas Stars The Dallas Stars remain one of the NHL’s strongest regular-season teams, but another painful playoff exit raises an increasingly uncomfortable question: is their Stanley Cup window beginning to close? Dallas finished second in the Central Division, second in the Western Conference, and third overall before blowing a 2-1 series lead and losing to Minnesota in six games. Neil Smith and Vic Morren examine Glen Gulutzan’s remarkable impact on the power play, the difficult moves required to keep Jason Robertson, Jamie Benn’s shrinking championship window, and why Robertson’s contract situation could become the defining storyline for the future of the Stars. IN THIS EPISODE: [00:00:00] Dallas finishes second in the Central Division, second in the Western Conference, and third overall, putting the Stars in another excellent position entering the Stanley Cup Playoffs. [00:00:20] Despite their regular-season success, the Stars are eliminated by the Minnesota Wild in six games during the opening round. [00:00:40] Dallas holds a 2-1 series advantage and appears positioned to take control of Game 4, leading with only 5:20 remaining before Minnesota ties the game and eventually wins in overtime. [00:01:00] The loss becomes even more frustrating when placed alongside Dallas’ recent playoff history. The Stars had reached—and lost in—the Western Conference Final in each of the previous three seasons. [00:01:20] Vic notes that no matter how well positioned Dallas appears each spring, something continually seems to go wrong before the Stars can finish the job. [00:01:40] Neil believes Stars fans are understandably becoming impatient. Dallas has consistently been good enough to contend, but the franchise has repeatedly fallen short of reaching its ultimate goal. [00:02:00] One of the biggest positives from the season is the impact of Glen Gulutzan, who returned for his second stint in Dallas after serving as an assistant and power-play specialist with the Edmonton Oilers. [00:02:20] Gulutzan’s influence produces a dramatic transformation with the man advantage. Dallas jumps from 16th on the power play in 2024-25 to second in the NHL at 28 percent. [00:02:40] Neil credits Gulutzan with bringing effective power-play concepts from Edmonton and turning what had been an average Dallas unit into one of the NHL’s most dangerous. [00:03:00] The Stars are equally impressive defensively, finishing second in the league at 2.66 goals against per game. [00:03:20] Jake Oettinger remains the foundation in goal, with Casey DeSmith providing support behind him and helping Dallas maintain one of the league’s best defensive records. [00:03:40] Unlike several other contenders, Dallas experiences relatively little offseason roster movement, but one trade becomes necessary because of the salary cap. [00:04:00] Maverick Bourque and Ilya Lyubushkin are traded to Nashville for a 2027 second-round pick and a 2028 third-round selection. [00:04:20] The move is largely about creating enough financial flexibility for Dallas to retain restricted free agent Jason Robertson. [00:04:40] Robertson signs a one-year contract worth $12 million, keeping the Stars’ premier goal scorer in Dallas for another season—but setting up an enormous decision when he becomes eligible for unrestricted free agency in 2027. [00:05:00] Captain Jamie Benn also returns, signing a one-year deal worth $850,000 with the opportunity to earn more than $1 million in additional bonuses. [00:05:20] Vic believes the lack of major roster changes puts even more pressure on the current group. Dallas has been close repeatedly, but the opportunity to win with this particular core may be running out. [00:05:40] Neil agrees that Benn is clearly on the clock. The longtime captain has experienced years of playoff contention in Dallas, but there are fewer opportunities remaining for him to lead this version of the Stars to a championship. [00:06:00] Robertson’s future may be an even bigger concern for General Manager Jim Nill. Dallas must determine what it will take to retain its best goal scorer beyond the upcoming season. [00:06:20] Neil also views the loss of Bourque as unfortunate because the young forward was beginning to come into his own just as Dallas was forced to move him. [00:06:40] Bourque and Lyubushkin become meaningful additions for Nashville, illustrating the difficult choices championship-caliber teams sometimes have to make to remain under the salary cap. [00:07:00] Neil and Vic agree that the championship window is beginning to close on the current iteration of the Dallas Stars. The talent remains, but the pressure to finally convert regular-season success into a Stanley Cup run continues to increase. [00:07:20] Dallas does have younger players who could begin contributing, including forward Emil Hemming, the 29th overall selection in the 2024 NHL Draft. [00:07:40] Hemming produced 63 points in 46 games with Barrie of the OHL last season, making him one of the organization’s prospects to watch as Dallas attempts to transition younger talent into its veteran lineup. [00:08:00] Defenseman Trey Taylor is another prospect worth monitoring as the Stars look for internal options capable of helping extend their competitive window. [00:08:20] Dallas enters 2026-27 still capable of competing with the NHL’s best teams. But after four consecutive disappointing playoff endings, the central question is no longer whether the Stars are good enough—it is how many more chances this core will have to finally win the Stanley Cup.
The last decade has not been kind to the Chicago Blackhawks. After winning the Stanley Cup in 2015, the franchise has not won a playoff series and has missed the post-season eight times in the last nine campaigns including six in a row. Progress often comes in small steps and for head coach Jeff Blashill, there may be more reason for optimism than meets the eye. Noted for his work developing young players, Blashill enters his second season behind the Chicago bench with the youngest team in the NHL enhanced by some veteran acquisitions over the summer. The show will also pay tribute to long-time ESPN analyst Barry Melrose, who passed away Thursday after battling Parkinson's Disease for the last three years, and we'll close the show looking back 25 years and how the hockey community was directly rocked by the 9/11 attacks. IN THIS EPISODE: [01:39] - Blackhawks head coach Jeff Blashill joins the show opening with memories of Barry Melrose. [04:31] - After suffering a shoulder injury while training in July, star forward Connor Bedard is back on the ice, possibly a bit ahead of his rehab schedule. [06:06] - From the inside, the experience of coaching Bedard. [09:31] - The overarching view of the Blackhawks roster this season compared to last, a true mix of youth and experience for one of the NHL's youngest teams. [12:54] - The expected trajectory for forward Frank Nazar, who signed an eye-opening contract a year ago which is kicking in this season. [14:40] - Having coached Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk in Detroit and being an assistant in a Tampa Bay lineup with Nikita Kucherov, the benefits gained with Patrick Kane coming to Chicago for a second stint. [17:20] - Speaking from experience, Blashill expects Kane to have an influence on Bedard in Chicago comparable to Zetterberg and Datsyuk on Dylan Larkin in Detroit. [19:09] - With former captain Nick Foligno in Minnesota, where Blashill will be looking to for leadership. [20:48] - The potential of a young defense which is going to be led by trade acquisition Bowen Byram. [23:46] - The goaltending, led by Spencer Knight and supported by Arvid Soderblom. [25:20] - Three fun questions for Blashill before departing - two of them rather loaded. [27:58] - Recapping the discussion with Jeff Blashill. [29:50] - Remembering Barry Melrose. [36:32] - 25th Anniversary of the 9/11 attacks and the direct impact on the NHL. X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #NHLWraparound.com #ShortShifts #NYCentric #CelebritySeries #HallofFameEdition #StanleyCupdate #SummerCoolers #Smith'sPix #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #BZZR #JeffBlashill #BarryMelrose #CindyMelrose #JimDevellano #BrianEngblom #BillClement #ConnorBedard #PatrickKane #AntonFrondell #RomanKantserov #NickLardis #SamRinzel #ColeSmith #IanCole #JordanGreenway #BowenByram #FrankNazar #PavelDatsyuk #HenrikZetterberg #NikitaKucherov #NicklasLidstrom #DylanLarkin #TylerBertuzzi #ConnorMurphy #JasonDickinson #AlexVlasic #WyattKaiser #ArtyomLevshunov #LouisCrevier #MatthewSchaefer #SpencerKnight #ArvidSoderblom #BruceMcNall #JohnSaunders #BillPidto #AceBailey #MarkBavis #AnaheimDucks #BostonBruins #BuffaloSabres #CalgaryFlames #CarolinaHurricanes #ChicagoBlackhawks #ColoradoAvalanche #ColumbusBlueJackets #DallasStars #DetroitRedWings #EdmontonOilers #FloridaPanthers #LosAngelesKings #MinnesotaWild #MontrealCanadiens #NashvillePredators #NewJerseyDevils #NewYorkIslanders #NewYorkRangers #OttawaSenators #PhiladelphiaFlyers #PittsburghPenguins #StLouisBlues #SanJoseSharks #SeattleKraken #TampaBayLightning #TorontoMapleLeafs #UtahMammoth #VancouverCanucks #VegasGoldenKnights #WashingtonCapitals #WinnipegJets #AdirondackRedWings #DetroitTigers #ChicagoWhiteSox #ChicagoCubs #LittleCaesarsPizza #LouMalnatiPizza #CincinnatiStingers #WHA #SeattleThunderbirds #WayneGretzky #LucRobitaille #BobPlager #JoeWatson #WayneCashman #AceBaileyChildren'sFoundation #TheMarkBavisLeadershipFoundation #AndrewBrunette
Summer Coolers – Columbus Blue Jackets The Columbus Blue Jackets have missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs for six consecutive seasons, but there may finally be reasons for optimism. Rick Bowness returns after helping stabilize the club following his midseason arrival, Zach Werenski has recommitted to Columbus, Jet Greaves has emerged as the No. 1 goaltender, and the addition of Valeri Nichushkin could provide a significant offensive boost. Neil Smith and Vic Morren examine whether the Blue Jackets can finally take the next step, how they replace former captain Boone Jenner, and why Adam Fantilli could become one of the defining players—and leaders—of Columbus’ future. IN THIS EPISODE: [00:00:00] Columbus finishes fifth in the Metropolitan Division with 92 points, 11th in the Eastern Conference and 17th overall, missing the playoffs for a sixth consecutive season. [00:00:25] The franchise still owns only one playoff series victory in its history—the stunning 2019 sweep of the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Tampa Bay Lightning. [00:00:45] Columbus remains largely middle-of-the-pack offensively, defensively, on the power play, and on the penalty kill. Vic describes the team as simply “okay” in almost every major area. [00:01:00] Rick Bowness replaces Dean Evason in January and initially produces significant improvement, particularly in Columbus’ ability to protect leads and avoid giving away points late in games. [00:01:20] The Blue Jackets finish 10 games above .500 during Bowness’ 37 games, but a disastrous 3-9-1 finish over their final 13 games destroys their playoff hopes. [00:01:40] Bowness publicly challenges the team after the season, making it clear that changes would be necessary if he returned behind the bench. He is back, setting the stage for an important training camp. [00:02:00] The offseason initially brings major uncertainty when two important players indicate they may not remain with the organization. Norris Trophy-winning defenseman Zach Werenski eventually reverses course and says he wants to stay and win in Columbus. [00:02:25] With Boone Jenner leaving for Washington, Werenski could become a candidate for the captaincy as Columbus searches for its next locker-room leader. [00:02:45] Kirill Marchenko becomes the remaining contract concern. He will be a restricted free agent after the season and has expressed uncertainty about signing another deal with Columbus. [00:03:00] General Manager Don Waddell makes one of his biggest moves by acquiring Valeri Nichushkin from the Colorado Avalanche for second-, third-, and fifth-round draft picks spread across 2026, 2027, and 2028. [00:03:25] Neil acknowledges the concerns surrounding Nichushkin’s past but says he has heard the forward is a changed person who is excited about his opportunity in Columbus. [00:03:45] Nichushkin should receive increased ice time and additional power-play opportunities, potentially giving the Blue Jackets an important new offensive weapon. [00:04:00] Columbus loses several players, beginning with longtime captain Boone Jenner. Mason Marchment signs with San Jose, Brendan Gaunce joins Boston, and Zach Aston-Reese leaves for Philadelphia. [00:04:20] Charlie Coyle remains in Columbus on a six-year, $6 million-per-season contract and could assume some of the veteran leadership responsibilities previously carried by Jenner. [00:04:40] Ryan Lomberg arrives from Calgary, bringing additional energy and physicality to the lineup, while Columbus also retains several of its own depth pieces. [00:05:00] Two important restricted free agents avoid arbitration. Jet Greaves signs for three years at $5 million per season, while Cole Sillinger agrees to a three-year deal worth $4.6 million annually. [00:05:25] Greaves’ contract reflects his emergence as Columbus’ No. 1 goaltender after overtaking Elvis Merzlikins during the 2025-26 season. Neil believes Greaves proved he can become a very good NHL netminder. [00:05:50] Sillinger’s commitment, along with Werenski’s renewed desire to remain with the organization, provides evidence that Columbus is not struggling to retain everyone. [00:06:10] Neil believes the organization enters training camp in a much healthier position than it appeared to be only a month earlier, with Marchenko now representing the primary unresolved long-term concern. [00:06:30] Columbus also has young talent coming through the pipeline, including defenseman Jackson Smith, the 14th overall selection in 2025, who produced 26 points in 35 games at Penn State. [00:06:50] Cayden Lindstrom, the fourth overall selection in the 2024 Draft, remains another major prospect, while Luca Del Bel Belluz has already begun gaining NHL experience. [00:07:10] The central question becomes whether all these pieces are enough for Columbus to finally take the last step and qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. [00:07:30] Neil believes the answer will partially depend on the strength of the competition. He sees Columbus as a work in progress but believes Nichushkin improves the offense and Greaves gives the team a developing young goaltender. [00:07:50] Coyle could help fill the leadership void left by Jenner, while Bowness’ biggest priority may be preventing another late-season collapse like the one that destroyed Columbus’ playoff chances last year. [00:08:10] Vic identifies Adam Fantilli as one of the most important players entering the season. Beyond his offensive ability, Fantilli possesses the intensity and leadership qualities of a potential future captain. [00:08:30] Neil agrees that Fantilli’s development must continue. For Columbus to become a playoff team in 2026-27, the former top prospect needs to begin blossoming into the impact player the organization believes he can become.