Columbus Blue Jackets announce initial 22 man roster for season opener
The Columbus Blue Jackets are just three days away from dropping the puck on their 25th season in the National Hockey League. Head coach Dean Evason’s club enters the 2025–26 campaign eager to build on a surprisingly competitive year that saw Columbus finish just two points shy of a playoff berth.
The lingering question around Nationwide Arena is whether last season’s push was a sign of overachievement — or the first step in a legitimate climb up the Eastern Conference standings. That debate will likely carry into the opening weeks, but one thing is certain: this roster blends established leadership with several intriguing new faces ready to make an impact.
Columbus opens its season Thursday night in Nashville against the Predators, bringing the following 22-man roster into the campaign:
Forwards (13) – 3 Charlie Coyle, 4 Cole Sillinger, 10 Dmitri Voronkov, 11 Miles Wood, 19 Adam Fantilli, 21 Isac Lundestrom, 23 Sean Monahan, 24 Mathieu Olivier, 27 Zach Aston-Reese, 38 Boone Jenner, 59 Yegor Chinakhov, 86 Kirill Marchenko, 91 Kent Johnson.
Defensemen (7) – 2 Jake Christiansen, 5 Denton Mateychuk, 8 Zach Werenski, 9 Ivan Provorov, 15 Dante Fabbro, 44 Erik Gudbranson, 78 Damon Severson.
Goaltenders (2) – 73 Jet Greaves, 90 Elvis Merzlikins.
Players to Watch
Jet Greaves (G) — The 23-year-old netminder emerged as one of Columbus’s brightest surprises last season, anchoring the team’s late playoff push with five straight quality starts and a sparkling .975 save percentage, according to The Athletic. Splitting duties with Elvis Merzlikins should help keep both goaltenders fresh and healthy over the course of the season.
Dante Fabbro (D) — Claimed off waivers from Nashville last year, Fabbro wasted little time carving out a role on the Jackets’ blue line. His chemistry with Zach Werenski was immediate, and his steady two-way play brings balance to the top pair. After finding consistency in Columbus, Fabbro will look to solidify himself as a long-term piece on defense.
Adam Fantilli (F) — What can be said about Adam Fantilli that hasn’t already been said? He skates well, hits hard, and can score with the best of them. The now 20-year-old looks wise beyond his years and poised to become the next great Columbus superstar.
Season Outlook
With Evason behind the bench for his first full season, Columbus aims to turn last year’s progress into a sustainable step forward. The roster boasts more depth down the middle, improved blue-line balance, and a young core ready to take ownership of the team’s identity. If the goaltending tandem holds steady and Fantilli continues his ascent, the Blue Jackets could again find themselves in the playoff mix come spring.