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Columbus Blue Jackets 2024-25 report card: Not quite straight As but close
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- Columbus Blue Jackets 2024-25 report card: Not quite straight As but close
The next step will be tougher.
The Blue Jackets made a big stride during a surprising push toward the playoffs that fell two points short. Given Columbus was dealing with another spate of injuries , the tragic loss of Johnny Gaudreau on Aug. 29, 2024, and the departure of now-Canadiens forward Patrik Laine after he demanded a trade, the Jackets became the NHL's best story while defying gloomy projections.
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Was it a successful season? Yes and no.
"Our coaching staff, we're extremely positive, but there's some negativity, too, that we're not playing (in the playoffs)," head coach Dean Evason said. "Are we excited about some things that happened this year and how we handled some things? Absolutely, 100%, but at the end of the day, it's still a negative feeling right now."
Keeping that in mind, here's a look at the Blue Jackets' report card for 2024-25:
Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins congratulates right wing Kirill Marchenko on his hat trick during an 8-4 win over the Predators on April 1.
Columbus Blue Jackets offense: A
Inconsistencies contributed to the Blue Jackets not qualifying for the playoffs, and that's the reason this grade doesn't have a "+" after it.
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They set a franchise record for goals with 267, had five players score 20-plus goals, two finish with 31 and star Zach Werenski led the team offensively while shattering his own franchise records for scoring by a defenseman with 23 goals, 59 assists and 82 points.
The Blue Jackets also set a franchise record for the number of games they scored six-plus goals, doing that 16 times, but they were also shut out nine times. Two extended scoring droughts, one in November and another in March, essentially sunk their playoff hopes.
Overall, however, the Blue Jackets' offense flexed considerable scoring muscle. Get the cannon ready for heavy ordnance.
Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski (8) defends New York Islanders center Bo Horvat (14) during the first period of the NHL hockey game at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on April 17, 2025.
Columbus Blue Jackets defense: B-
Start with some good news first.
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The Blue Jackets allowed fewer goals for a second straight season after giving up a franchise-high 329 in 2022-23. They also broke even in goal differential with 267 scored and 267 allowed.
That trend must continue.
The number of goals the Jackets allowed still ranks fifth most in the team's 24-year history, which isn't good enough for a team harboring playoff aspirations. How much of that responsibility falls on the Jackets' defensive play and how much rests with their goaltenders?
That's a fair question, but it's not all on the netminders. The defense in front of them still needs work.
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They can build around Werenski. The Jacket anchors the blue line and is finally getting recognition outside of Columbus for his excellence, which is more than his offensive contributions.
Elvis Merzlikins of the Blue Jackets posted an .892 save percentage this season, which ranked 23 among goalies who played starters’ minutes.
Columbus Blue Jackets goaltending: D+
There's no easy way to put this one.
The Blue Jackets' goaltending, in general, must improve quite a bit if they want to make a return to the playoffs for the first time since the COVID "bubbles" of 2020. Elvis Merzlikins was better than his previous two seasons but still struggles with consistency. Daniil Tarasov received inconsistent playing time and has regressed since landing the backup role.
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Merzlikins' .892 save percentage ranked 23 among goalies who played starters' minutes, while Tarasov's .881 ranked 20thout of 24 who played between 15 and 30 games.
The one bright spot was rookie Jet Greaves , whose sizzling numbers during a five-game winning streak to close the season, as Merzlikins was out with a concussion, earned him the NHL's final "first star of the week" honors.
Blue Jackets goaltender Daniil Tarasov (at right) hugs goaltender Jet Greaves following Columbus' 6-1 win over the Islanders in the 2024-25 season finale April 17.
Merzlikins still has two years left on a contract that carries a $5.4 million annual charge against the NHL's salary cap, and Tarasov is a pending restricted free agent. General manager Don Waddell has left open the possibility that nothing changes in the Blue Jackets' goaltending depth chart to start next season, but Greaves' excellence at the NHL level over parts of three seasons shouldn't be brushed aside.
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Waddell also doesn't seem ready to swallow the bitter pill of buying out the remainder of Merzlikins' contract to make him a free agent, but a fresh start might be what's best for both him and the Blue Jackets at this point.
Blue Jackets coach Dean Evason laughs during a 7-0 win over the Capitals on April 12.
Columbus Blue Jackets coaching: A
Evason's hiring was announced on July 22, 2024, which is late for bringing a new coach on board. After meeting with reporters in Columbus a day later, the Jackets' new bench boss got to work making calls to players and meeting with his staff.
Evason also booked a flight to Philadelphia to meet Gaudreau, his new star left wing, in person. A month later, Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew, were killed when struck by a drunk driver as they biked together in South Jersey.
From left: Blue Jackets head coach Dean Evason, captain Boone Jenner and forward Sean Kuraly in Columbus' locker room at Ohio Stadium before this season's outdoor game.
That tragedy tore the Blue Jackets apart emotionally, just a few weeks before the start of training camp. It also bound them even tighter. That included Evason. Handed a daunting task amid an unthinkable tragedy, the Blue Jackets and their coaches pulled it all together for an impressive season,
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Incorporating Gaudreau into almost every facet of their season, the Jackets played for their former teammate while playing hard for their new head coach.
There are plenty of areas within the staff's performance that could be dissected here — both special teams had their moments, good and bad — but everything must be looked at through the Gaudreau lens.
They downplayed it, but this Blue Jackets season was nothing short of incredible.
Blue Jackets general manager said the team doesn't want to trade defenseman Zach Werenski, but if they think a deal is necessary, they will seek a "boatload" in return.
Columbus Blue Jackets front office: A
Under Waddell's guidance, the Blue Jackets parted ways with Pascal Vincent, hired Evason, subtracted a handful of players who didn't fit into the picture and acquiesced to Laine's trade request before the Gaudreau tragedy.
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Waddell also found key veteran pieces to round out his roster from the preseason right to the end.
James van Riemsdyk was a fantastic veteran free-agent signing, Zach Aston-Reece and Dante Fabbro were great waiver claims and the decision to keep Provorov rather than spinning him off at the trade deadline sent a strong message to a team that battled hard to stay in the playoff race.
Time will tell if Waddell's first big draft pick pans out, but he's got the benefit of the doubt for now after taking Cayden Lindstrom (back surgery) fourth overall. Waddell is now diving into this summer's "to-do" list with an eye on next year's playoffs. That's encouraging for a fan base that has mostly dealt with the frustration of ongoing disappointment throughout the team's existence.
Blue Jackets reporter Brian Hedger can be reached at bhedger@dispatch.com and @BrianHedger.bsky.social
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Blue Jackets 2024-25 report card: Not quite all As but close
