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Columbus Blue Jackets 2024 in review: heartbreak, turbulence and progress
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- Columbus Blue Jackets 2024 in review: heartbreak, turbulence and progress
The past year for the Blue Jackets was defined by turbulence , tragedy , emotional strain and evidence of growth.
There were firings and hirings , multiple trades , major injuries , contract extensions, another high draft pick , summer additions, trauma and incredible sadness tied to an offseason death plus encouragement after the first three months of a new season.
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The Blue Jackets will always remember 2024 as the year Johnny Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew, were killed during the offseason, but the past 12 months might be viewed in the future as the year Columbus started to gain traction in its rebuild despite immeasurable loss.
Here's a month-by-month glimpse of the Blue Jackets in 2024:
Nov 16, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets center Adam Fantilli (11) skates past Arizona Coyotes center Logan Cooley (92) during the third period of the NHL hockey game at Nationwide Arena. The Blue Jackets lost 3-2.
January: Elvis Merzlikins wants 'new scenario,' Patrik Laine enters NHL/NHLPA program and Adam Fantilli 's rookie season ends
While continuing to flounder outside the playoff chase, the Blue Jackets dealt with three big plot twists. Goalie Elvis Merzlikins, frustrated after being demoted to third-string behind Daniil Tarasov and Spencer Martin , told reporters Jan. 12 that it was "time for a new scenario," and left what that meant open to interpretation.
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Bigger news awaited during the Jackets' swing through Western Canada and Seattle . Rookie defenseman David Jiricek was abruptly assigned to AHL Cleveland , coach Pascal Vincent was got caught lying to protect Patrik Laine — who had entered the NHL/NHL Players' Association assistance program — and rookie Adam Fantilli's season ended with a severe calf laceration .
General manager Jarmo Kekalainen and the Blue Jackets’ front office are studying the protocols the NHL has put into place to resume the season. No more than 52 staff and personnel per team, including 31 players, will be allowed inside each hub location.
February: Columbus Blue Jackets fire Jarmo Kekalainen, announce first outdoor game and lose Kent Johnson
Things didn't get easier in February. A two-week break to start the month was followed by losses to the Tampa Bay Lightning and Ottawa Senators , which preceded an announcement Feb. 15 that general manager Jarmo Kekalainen was fired .
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More news arrived at the end of a 4-1 loss to the New York Rangers on Feb. 25, when Kent Johnson tore a shoulder labrum .
Sep 18, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Team president John Davidson talks about Mike Babcock’s resignation and the hiring of new head coach Pascal Vincent during the Columbus Blue Jackets media day prior to the start of training camp at Nationwide Arena.
March: John Davidson handles trade deadline, Columbus Blue Jackets plummet to another rough finish
Following Kekalainen's dismissal, John Davidson added the title of interim GM to his role as president of hockey operations. He presided over three trades , including deals to send Jack Roslovic to the Rangers and defenseman Andrew Peeke to the Boston Bruins .
The trades, combined with injuries, prompted another downward spiral to the finish line that saddled the Blue Jackets with the NHL's fourth-worst record.
Mar 30, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Jeff Rimer salutes the fans as the legendary broadcaster is honored prior to the NHL hockey game between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Pittsburgh Penguins at Nationwide Arena. Rimer is retiring at the end of the season.
April: Jeff Rimer retires as TV voice, Zach Werenski ties a franchise scoring record
Two uplifting stories powered the Blue Jackets in the final two weeks of the season, as longtime television broadcaster Jeff Rimer was honored during his final games before retirement and Werenski chased a franchise record .
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He tied that record in Rimer's final game, equaling his former defense partner, Seth Jones , at 57 points for the highest-scoring season by a Blue Jackets defenseman in franchise history. Werenski led the Jackets to victory over the Carolina Hurricanes with two goals, two assists and four points.
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.
May: Columbus Blue Jackets hire Don Waddell to lead hockey operations department
Following the season finale, the Blue Jackets turned up the heat on their hunt for a new GM. They ended a three-month process by landing Don Waddell , whose contract with the Hurricanes was up.
Waddell was hired in late May as president of hockey operations and GM, making him the replacement for Kekalainen and Davidson, who shifted into a senior advisor role. Waddell went from the disappointment of a playoff ouster with the Hurricanes straight into an offseason whirlwind in Columbus .
Jun 28, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Cayden Lindstrom is selected with the 4th overall pick in the first round of the 2024 NHL Draft by the Columbus Blue Jackets at The Sphere. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
June: Columbus Blue Jackets president of hockey operations/GM Don Waddell makes sweeping changes, key draft pick
Within five weeks of joining the Blue Jackets, Waddell had already done a lot of work. He bought out the final year of Adam Boqvist's contract , walked away from expiring contracts with young players, fired Vincent , traded forward Alexandre Texier , selected center Cayden Lindstrom fourth overall at the draft in Las Vegas and listened to trade interest on Laine, who had requested a deal .
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He also narrowed a coaching search while keeping the July 1 start of free agency in sight.
Jul 23, 2024; Columbus, OH, USA; Dean Evason is introduced as the new head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets during a press conference with general manager Don Waddell at Nationwide Arena.
July: Columbus Blue Jackets sign Sean Monahan and Jack Johnson , get contract extensions done and hire Dean Evason
Despite not having a coach, Waddell signed unrestricted free agent center Sean Monahan to a five-year deal that was helped by the veteran's close friendship with Johnny Gaudreau . Jack Johnson, a veteran defenseman, was also granted his second stint with the Blue Jackets on a one-year contract, while restricted free agents Kirill Marchenko and Kent Johnson agreed to bridge deals.
Todd McLellan, whom the Blue Jackets had atop their coaching wish list , backed out of talks , so Waddell pivoted to Dean Evason .
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McLellan was just hired Thursday by the Detroit Red Wings , so he'll coach against Evason on March 1 in the Blue Jackets' first taste of outdoor hockey at Ohio Stadium.
August: Laine traded, Sillinger re-signed and tragedy strikes
August is usually when NHL executives get a breather, but Waddell and the Blue Jackets didn't have the luxury. Laine, who was released from the NHL/NHLPA program in late July , still wanted a trade and center Cole Sillinger remained unsigned. Those situations were resolved within days of each other but were quickly forgotten after the Gaudreaus' deaths shook the NHL.
The Blue Jackets were devastated along with the Gaudreau family, the Calgary Flames and many others in hockey. Just three weeks later, NHL training camps opened.
Blue Jackets center Sean Monahan speaks during the team's media day press conferences at Nationwide Arena. Monahan is wearing a shirt honoring late teammate Johnny Gaudreau.
September: Columbus Blue Jackets mourn Gaudreaus, bond during emotional camp
Less than two weeks after attending the Gaudreaus' funeral , the Blue Jackets opened camp with an emotional sense of togetherness. They've since leaned on each other quite a bit, which has brought them closer together during the start of a challenging season.
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One of the Blue Jackets' daily practices began in camp with the "Johnny skate," when they concluded each workout with a chosen player shooting the length of the ice at the other net. Hit the net, and the entire team skates one conditioning lap. Miss and the team skates three laps: 1-3, Gaudreau's number.
Oct 15, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Meredith Gaudreau walks through a line of Columbus Blue Jackets and Florida Panthers players moments before a banner was raised in honor of her late husband, Blue Jacket player Johnny Gaudreau.
October: Columbus Blue Jackets endure tear-filled opener, four shoulder injuries and replace the kepi hat
A new season opened with games in Minnesota and Colorado , where the Blue Jackets earned a split against the Wild and Avalanche . Werenski handed Monahan a new postgame "player of the game" award in Colorado, a gray and white donkey hat , which has replaced the Jackets' prior Civil War era kepi hat. The reason was tied to Gaudreau, who often called friends "a donkey," as a joke.
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The origin of the hat switch was revealed on the morning of the Jackets' home opener against the Panthers, which started with an emotional ceremony at Nationwide Arena that included Gaudreau's No. 13 being lifted to the rafters on a banner. The game also began with 13 seconds running off the clock while the Blue Jackets' left wing was left vacant for Gaudreau.
The Jackets also dealt with on-ice adversity due to early shoulder injuries that sidelined Boone Jenner , Erik Gudbranson , Dmitri Voronkov and Kent Johnson. Jenner and Gudbranson required surgeries, while the latter two are back.
Oct 3, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman David Jiricek (55) lines up for a face off during the first period of the NHL hockey game against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Nationwide Arena.
November: A frustrating skid, encouraging heater, Lindstrom has surgery and Jiricek gets traded
Through the season's first two months, the Blue Jackets proved they're able to score goals in bunches . They ripped off six-goal games to start the season before hitting a six-game winless slide to start November.
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They followed it with five wins in seven games before the calendar flipped to December, while Werenski rose toward the top of NHL defensemen scorers. Lindstrom underwent back surgery to relieve pain from a herniated disc, while Jiricek was granted a change-of-scenery trade that has him skating with the Wild's AHL affiliate.
Montreal Canadiens right wing Patrik Laine (92) is checked into the glass by Columbus Blue Jackets center Sean Monahan (23) during the first period of the Montreal Canadiens at Columbus Blue Jackets game December 23, 2024 in Nationwide Arena. Helping on the ice is Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Kirill Marchenko (86) and Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Dante Fabbro (15).
December: Gaudreau memorials, a goaltending conundrum and Laine's comments
December was just as busy for the Jackets, who honored Gaudreau twice more in Calgary and Philadelphia . They also added a third goalie in rookie Jet Greaves , who was recalled on two separate occasions to spark questions about the pecking order between him, Merzlikins and Tarasov.
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Meanwhile, Laine's return Monday to Columbus ended with fireworks after he roasted his former team for being "too comfortable with losing," the past couple years. Laine played just one period in the Blue Jackets' 5-4 victory over the Montreal Canadiens due to an undisclosed upper-body injury, and Werenski fired back with heated comments following the game.
Rookie Denton Mateychuk also made his NHL debut for the Blue Jackets, who moved just two spots back of the final wildcard spot in the Eastern Conference and could use that renewed fire starting a new year.
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Blue Jackets 2024 in review shows grief, progress
