13 Takeaways From Blue Jackets’ Exit Interview Day

The experience will help the Blue Jackets in the future. But right now, they are feeling the pain of missing out on the real fun. That should be plenty enough motivation to put in the work this offseason to get into the playoffs in 2025-26.

2. Defense and goaltending

Waddell was asked how aggressive does he want to be this offseason and then how big a challenge fixing from the red line back would be wondering if this would be the team’s focus. He agreed with the question.

“Yeah, I would agree with that,” Waddell said. “We’ve had lots of meetings already. We just had a big meeting the other day about you look at different avenues you can explore. One is obviously through trades. We have a lot of pick assets that we can use for trades. And the other is the free agent market this year with the cap going up, a lot of teams have locked up their players for numerous amounts of years. You guys can see the same list we’re looking at. So there’s going to be some challenges there.”

“But I think every summer there’s deals to be made. It’s just what pieces you’re willing to give up for. Having the draft capital is always important. We got two first-round picks this year so our goal is to make sure we do everything that we’re capable of doing to try to make this team better.”

Recall Waddell after the trade deadline said there were talks of other deals that didn’t come together but could be revisited in the summer. Nothing was said to indicate that the Blue Jackets would be quiet in the offseason. They know they need to get better. The question is not if there will be deals, but how many and to whom.

3. No buyouts, for now.

Waddell was also asked flat out if the Blue Jackets would consider buyouts citing the cap space the team has. Things can change quickly. But don’t count on any buyouts.

“That’s not something we’re looking at,” Waddell said. “I can’t say how the summer’s going to play out but as of now, we haven’t talked about it.”

Many have wondered if this would be the time to buyout the rest of Elvis Merzlikins’ contract. He was better in 2024-25, but still was not good enough from a number’s standpoint.

Waddell’s comments here seem to point to Merzlikins being back in 2025-26 unless there is a trade. This puts a question over what’s next for Daniil Tarasov? Waddell said they must examine the position but said things could stay status quo too.

Tarasov is a pending RFA with arbitration rights. He just finished a three-year deal that saw him relegated to third-string goalie when Jet Greaves was called up. Just feels like something is going to change given the need to reduce their goals against.

4. Merzlikins opened up about he was impacted by Kivlenieks’ passing.

Merzlikins discussed a few different things on Friday. He said he missed the end of the season due to a concussion. We asked him what he will remember most about this season. He then opened up about Matiss Kivlenieks.

“The team,” Merzlikins said about what he’ll remember most about this season. “When Matiss passed away, I kind of lost my mind. It’s something that you don’t control. I had great people who worked with me. I had the organization helping me a lot and helping my family, my wife and the people who I talked to. They’re helping me a lot. But it took me a while to find myself. Last summer when I was back in Europe…but when I went back home (in Europe, Columbus is his home) and I actually saw my friends and family, I feel happy.”

“And when I came here for the start of the season, the training camp, the locker room was different. I saw locker room was completely different. This locker room, what we have today, we have love going on there. And from start of season to the end of season, it got just better and better and better. Two or three years ago, I didn’t feel that, maybe it was me because I was kind of closed in, in my own world.”

“But here, we have family here. The guys right now, they care about each other. They work their asses off. I think what I’m going to remember is that we became a family. We grew together. We did good things this year.”

The team had said all year how Merzlikins grew as a leader in the locker room. He admitted being closed in his own little world in the aftermath. But thanks to the state of the room, he was able to say “we have love going on there.”

Overcoming tragedy is never linear. Merzlikins’ situation is a good reminder that everyone handles situations differently.

5. Monahan sees Columbus as potential forever home.

We will have much more on Monahan in the coming weeks. But on Friday, he admitted loving everything about Columbus. Considering everything he has been through, that puts into perspective what he’s had to overcome losing his best friend in Johnny Gaudreau.

“I love it. My family loves it,” Monahan said. “I have a lot of good intel from some good friends to come here and told me all about the city. It’s a special place. I’ve said it since I’ve got here. It feels like home from day one and it’s most likely potentially my forever home. We really enjoy living here and representing the Blue Jackets for sure.”

Monahan is just the latest example of a player who sees the value in what all Columbus has to offer from a living perspective.

Other Takeaways

Gaudreau Forever

13. Johnny Gaudreau will always be around the Blue Jackets.

We saved the 13th takeaway for number 13. Evason made one thing clear on Thursday that resonated with everyone as soon as he said it.

“But I’ll tell you this. He will not be leaving our dressing room as long as I’m here,” Evason said. He will be in there and he will be a presence and he’ll help us win hockey games and he’ll hopefully get us to where we want to be. And that’s to win a Stanley Cup.”

Jenner echoed those same feelings on Friday.

“We played for Johnny all year,” Jenner said. “And we’ll continue to. He’s a part of our dressing room and a teammate forever. It’s special that way this year playing for him. We’ve mentioned it so much. He’s continued to be a part of our group and even (Thursday) me with the kids at the game and know Johnny would be so proud of that…We’ll continue to honor him. He’s a part of it and we miss him everyday on and off the ice.”

The Blue Jackets made a promise. They said Gaudreau would always be around. No matter where you look whether it’s outside Nationwide Arena on your way in, inside the arena at his memorial, in the rafters were number 13 is high above or in the locker room where his jersey hangs in his stall, the team kept their promise. Gaudreau’s presence will remain around the Blue Jackets forever. Promise kept.