The
Columbus Blue Jackets made major strides in the 2024–25 NHL season, but head coach Dean Evason isn’t satisfied. Despite improvements and overcoming serious challenges, the team once again fell short of the playoffs — a reality that overshadows their growth.
“We’re not preparing for the playoffs, and that means we didn’t do enough,” Evason said. “We’re building something here, yes, but it’s still frustrating.”
A Season of Highs and Heartbreak
The Blue Jackets had a dramatic year marked by:
- The tragic death of All-Star Johnny Gaudreau just before training camp.
- Hosting their first-ever outdoor game, drawing the second-largest NHL crowd in history.
- A 13-win and 23-point improvement over last season — the biggest leap in the league.
Columbus finished the regular season with:
- 40 wins and 89 points
- Just 2 points shy of a playoff spot
- Fourth in the Metropolitan Division
- 19th overall in the NHL standings
Still, they missed the postseason for the fifth straight year.
Close but Not Close Enough
General Manager Don Waddell remains optimistic.
“I said playing meaningful games in March would be a big step — and we exceeded that,” he noted.
Columbus held a playoff spot after a thrilling Stadium Series win over Detroit on March 1, but then lost 8 of their next 9 games. A poor start to April, including two shutout losses, created a hole they couldn’t climb out of — even with a six-game win streak to close the season.
Areas Needing Improvement
Coach Evason pointed out key weaknesses:
- Poor road performance (only 14 road wins)
- Defensive struggles, allowing 267 goals (25th in the NHL)
- Special teams issues, including a 77% penalty kill (22nd in the league)
“Our road record sucked. Our special teams sucked,” Evason admitted. “Our scoring was solid, but we need to defend better.”
Bright Spots: Leadership and Young Talent
Despite the disappointment, the Jackets have strong leadership:
- Captain Boone Jenner
- Sean Monahan, Matthew Olivier
- Zach Werenski, a Norris Trophy candidate who led the team in scoring with 82 points — the first defenseman in franchise history to do so.
Werenski expressed long-term belief in the team:
“I believe in this process, the core group, and what we’re building here.”
Adam Fantilli had a breakout year with 30 goals, while young goalie Jet Greaves shined late in the season, posting four wins and two shutouts after being called
up from the AHL.
Looking Ahead: Free Agency and Draft Picks
GM Waddell has key decisions to make this offseason. Free agents include:
- Unrestricted: Sean Kuraly, Justin Danforth, James van Riemsdyk, Ivan Provorov, Dante Fabbro, and Jack Johnson
- Restricted: Dmitri Voronkov and backup goalie Daniil Tarasov
The Blue Jackets also hold seven 2025 NHL Draft picks, including two first-round selections.
“We’ll continue building with the strong group we have,” said Waddell. “We’re heading in the right direction.”
