Breaking: The NHL and NHLPA have announced the projected salary cap estimates for the next three seasons through 2027-2028, per Elliotte Friedman of SportsNet
25/26 - $95.5M
26/27 - $104.0M
27/28 - $113.5M
That’s a lot of dough for players’ new deals. No better time to be a pro hockey player than right now. The league is running on all four cylinders as Garry Bettman is heading toward retirement.
Additionally, Saad to Vegas and Boqvist to the Islanders. Former Blue Jackets on the move.
Game Preview Coverage
The Columbus Blue Jackets collide with the Utah Hockey Club for the first time ever live from the Delta Center at 9pm EST.
Ryan Smith, the owner of the Hockey Club and Utah Jazz, was the key player in the relocation of the Arizona Coyotes in the offseason.
Utah made major moves in the summer, including a shakeup to the defense corps.
Out
D JJ Moser and F Connor Geekie were packaged to Tampa Bay
F Jason Zucker joined Buffalo in a Minnesota reunion
F Travis Boyd and D Cameron Crotty signed with Minnesota
D Josh Brown inked with Edmonton
F Nathan Smith signed with Vancouver
F Justin Kirkland aka Costco signed with Calgary
F Jan Jenik was dealt to Ottawa to reunite with former manager Steve Staios.
D Victor Soderstrom and Steven Kampfer headed to Europe.
In
D Mikael Sergachev was acquired from Tampa.
D John Marino was acquired from New Jersey.
F Egor Solkov was acquired from Ottawa.
Former Blue Jackets Ian Cole; Kevin Connauton; and Stanley Cup winner Kevin Stenlund signed with Utah.
Forwards Travis Barron; Andrew Agozzino; defenseman Robert Bortuzzo; and goalie Jaxon Stauber signed short term.
Preview
Both Utah and Columbus are in the hunt for playoff positioning in the wild card. Columbus is coming in off an overtime victory against Vegas. Utah lost to Pittsburgh on Wednesday in overtime. The HC do not have a winning record at home;
Columbus witnessed forward Adam Fantilli play his 100th career game last evening in Vegas. Sillinger, who had the overtime winner in his first game back, after the win said
It’s nice to start this road trip off with a win.
The last lengthy western road swing was disappointing for the Jackets, including, the skid in California.
The Hockey Club dealt with injuries and goaltending woes all season, and the depth is not matching their need. The offense has been worse with a 2.82GF.
Breaking: The NHL has released the Utah HC Quarter Century team
First Team
F Logan Cooley
F Dylan Guenther
F Clayton Keller
D Mikael Segerachev
D Michael Kesselring
G Karel Vejmelka
Second Team
F Alex Kerfoot
F Jack McBain
F Nick Schmaltz
D Ian Cole
D Olli Maatta
G Connor Ingram
Columbus has to keep the momentum as they have tonight and Dallas on Sunday. A quick road trip sprint before coming back east before the February break. Winning will keep them ahead of the Bruins with games still in hand on them.
Expect Daniil Tarasov to get the green light for the starter crease as Elvis Merzlikins secured the victory last night for the Blue Jackets.
Projected Lineups
Utah Hockey Club
Clayton Keller -- Alexander Kerfoot -- Nick Schmaltz
Matias Maccelli -- Barrett Hayton -- Josh Doan
Lawson Crouse -- Jack McBain -- Michael Carcone
Liam O’Brien -- Kevin Stenlund -- Nick Bjugstad
Mikhail Sergachev -- John Marino
Ian Cole -- Michael Kesselring
Olli Maatta -- Nick DeSimone
Karel Vejmelka
Connor Ingram
Scratched: Vladislav Kolyachonok, Juuso
Valamaki
Injured: Logan Cooley (lower body), Dylan Guenther (lower body), Sean Durzi (upper body), Robert Bortuzzo (lower body)
Columbus Blue Jackets
Dmitri Voronkov -- Adam Fantilli -- Kirill Marchenko
James van Riemsdyk -- Cole Sillinger -- Kent Johnson
Zach Aston-Reese -- Luca Del Bel Belluz -- Mathieu Olivier
Mikael Pyyhtia -- Sean Kuraly -- Justin Danforth
Zach Werenski -- Dante Fabbro
Jake Christensen -- Ivan Provorov
Denton Mateychuk -- Damon Severson
Elvis Merzlikins
Daniil Tarasov
Scratched: Jordan Harris, Jack Johnson
Injured: Sean Monahan (wrist), Yegor Chinakhov (upper body)
Players to Watch
Utah — Clayton Keller - the U.S. reject has had 17 points in January, in 13 games skated. Keller was a surprising leave off for the American team, and is looking to make the Olympics.
Columbus — Adam Fantilli — 14 points in 13 games prior to the final game of the first month of 2025. Despite the Monahan loss, he has shined for the Jackets through adversity.
Predicted Final Score
UHC — 2
CBJ — 3
Gambling Corner
Utah remains the favorite at a -225 to the Columbus +185.
Columbus Blue Jackets Blogger • 
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