Columbus Blue Jackets coach Dean Evason and GM Don Waddell on their philosophy
Don Waddell, general manager of the Columbus Blue Jackets, introduces new head coach Dean Evason during a press conference at Nationwide Arena.
Don Waddell’s extensive offseason to-do list for the Blue Jackets has been reduced to a few items.
Cole Sillinger needs a new contract and forward Patrik Laine is still keen to find a new NHL home via the transfer market. Otherwise, Waddell has a long list of tasks ticked off this summer, including announcing Thursday the appointment of new head coach Dean Evason’s assistant staff.
“Every day I feel a little better,” Waddell said. “We still have a few things to work out, but that’s OK.”
Here’s a closer look at what the Blue Jackets have left this summer:
Columbus Blue Jackets close to contract extension with Cole Sillinger
The last remaining restricted free agent on the Blue Jackets roster may be close to signing a new contract.
Waddell said the team and Cole Sillinger are close to agreeing to a “multi-year” deal. Sillinger, 21, could have a breakout season in his fourth NHL season. He has been playing in the NHL since being selected 12th overall in 2021 by the Blue Jackets, who drafted forward Kent Johnson fifth overall that year.
Johnson, 21, signed a three-year contract extension in late July worth $5.4 million – an average annual value of $1.8 million – and Sillinger is expected to receive a contract somewhere between that amount and Kirill Marchenko’s three-year deal, which pays him an average of $3.85 million per year ($11.55 million total).
Transfer market for Patrik Laine from the Columbus Blue Jackets remains sluggish
It has been two weeks since Laine was released from the NHL/NHL Players Association player assistance program, which allowed him to talk to opposing teams. Laine, who trains in Florida, first expressed his desire to be traded in June through agent Andy Scott.
Waddell said there is mutual interest in giving Laine a change of scenery, but the forward may need to boost his trade value by playing in Columbus starting next season. Scott has not returned several attempts to contact the Dispatch, but Waddell said the agent has permission to talk to other NHL teams about Laine, who has two years left on his contract and carries a hefty $8.7 million salary cap hit.
Waddell told the Dispatch in July he could have traded the Finnish forward by agreeing to take the NHL’s maximum salary withholding of 50% of Laine’s contract, but that is not an acceptable scenario at this time. However, the Jackets expect to eventually retain some percentage of Laine’s remaining contract.
Simply put, there isn’t much interest in Laine for less than $4.35 million per season, partly because it’s well into the NHL offseason and partly because of Laine’s injury issues since joining the Blue Jackets. The Dispatch has learned that two NHL teams have inquired about Laine since he received NHL/NHLPA clearance, but no offers have been received.
One offer that was accepted came from Laine, who announced his engagement to social media influencer Jordan Leigh on Friday.
Cayden Lindstrom begins first NHL training camp with the Columbus Blue Jackets without a contract
Cayden Lindstrom, drafted fourth overall by the Blue Jackets in June, will not sign an entry-level contract until attending his first NHL training camp.
There’s also the possibility that the 18-year-old Lindstrom won’t receive an ELC before he heads to Medicine Hat of the Western Hockey League. Waddell is in no rush to sign the impressive forward, who missed about half of last season with back and hand injuries. Lindstrom said those issues have healed, but the Blue Jackets were extra cautious with him during their NHL development camp in early July. He participated in skating practices but was not cleared for “scrimmages” or a scrimmage game to close out camp.
First-round picks often sign ELCs quickly because it’s mostly formulaic, which is why Lindstrom’s lack of a contract is notable. Waddell turned down several trade offers to select Lindstrom, and the Jackets passed up highly talented wing Ivan Demidov to grab a 6-foot-3, 215-pound center.
Lindstrom is currently one of two first-round picks from this year’s draft who have neither signed nor are under contract in Russia or are heading to college. The other is London Knights forward Sam O’Reilly, who is 32and overall by the Edmonton Oilers with the last pick in the first round.
Waddell is not worried about that.
“I’m not an advocate of keeping these young players here. Whether we sign him or not (in training camp), we’re going to send him back this year and let him play,” Waddell said. “I told his agent, ‘Let’s just go to training camp and get him here.’ I’m not worried about it. We’ll sign him at some point.”
Columbus Blue Jackets retain strength/conditioning and training staff
Waddell said the Blue Jackets’ strength/conditioning and athletic trainers will be retained, and the team’s new GM plans to use the upcoming season to familiarize himself with them and evaluate them later.
“Everyone is coming back,” he said. “Then we’ll evaluate everything as the season progresses. I’ve told all the staff we’re going to evaluate what we’re doing this year. You get to know me. I get to know you and then we’ll move on.”
Waddell left the Carolina Hurricanes, one of the NHL’s least injured teams, to join one of the league’s most injury-plagued organizations in recent years.
The Blue Jackets finished last season with a whopping 327 man games lost due to injuries, which is actually a significant drop from the franchise record of 563 man games lost in the 2022-23 season. They also lost 371 man games due to injuries in the 2021-22 season, bringing their total for the past three years to 1,261.
The main cause of the health problems seemed to be bad luck, but the Blue Jackets have suffered numerous shoulder labrum tears that have required surgeries for Josh Anderson, Gustav Nyquist, Zach Werenski, Justin Danforth, Jake Bean and most recently Johnson.
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