Columbus Blue Jackets UFA Day One Review

The 2025 version of the Columbus Blue Jackets is starting to come into focus. Day one of the NHL's "UFA Day" has come and gone, and Blue Jackets fans and those who follow the team are split on the results.

Based on what most teams did, it sure seems like most teams did what they had to do, while others did absolutely nothing. This summer could get very interesting.

Let's review who they signed and who left for other teams.

Additions

Dante Fabbro - Defense - 4 Year - $4.125 million per season - Fabbro publicly stated, as did the team, that they wanted a deal to get done to bring back the young defender. As time crept on, it was starting to look like a deal wouldn't get done, but reports started trickling out last week that the team and Fabbro's camp were making progress on a new deal. Fabbro's new deal is both player and team-friendly with the term and money he got. Fabbro will be 31 when he becomes a UFA, and as the cap continues to rise, that $4 million per season contract will keep looking better and better, especially if Fabbro keeps playing like he did last season.

Ivan Provorov - Defense - 7 Years - $8.5 million per season - Provorov was the big fish that both sides wanted to get done. After Don Waddell flirted with a few other right-shot defensemen in free agency, he quickly circled back and got a deal done with Provorov a day before free agency was set to start. The initial reaction from some fans and media was shock about the money, but it really isn't that bad if Provorov continues to 1. Produce, and 2. Be available for games. Provorov has played 82 games six times in his career, including the last three seasons. Many teams would pay that simply for a player being able to stay healthy and play all 82 games. Provorov is a good player and a confident one as well. Being able to play both sides is also a plus. In yesterday's press conference, he stated that while there are players who can play the right side, not too many can play better than him, even as a leftie. And if we're being honest, he's probably right.

Isac Lundeström - Forward - 2 Years - $1.3 million per season - Lundeström is an excellent center with 337 NHL games under his belt at 25 years old. One scout said the following: "Powerful skater.. ability to carry the puck deep using good puck protection on both sides to then put dangerous pucks in front from down low." Adding Lundeström should give Dean Evason the choice of moving both Boone Jenner and Cole Sillinger to the wing, should he choose. The Blue Jackets look really solid down the middle, which includes skill guys and grinders. But don't mistake Lundeström for just a grinder; he can also score and be a playmaker.

Owen Sillinger - Forward - 1 Year/2-way - Sillinger, the older brother of Cole, played one game for Columbus last year. Sillinger has appeared in 202 career games for Cleveland and has amassed 114 points. Many believe Owen could likely serve a fourth-line role in the NHL, and it would be great to see him and Cole play together. In the one game he played last year, Cole was out sick, so they couldn't play together. Sillinger currently ranks 8th all-time in points for the Monsters with 114. If he stays healthy and plays in as many games as possible, he could realistically move as high as third and pass Jake Christiansen, who has 140. But I'm sure Owen hopes he doesn't get the chance to move up because that would mean he’d be playing games in Columbus.

Christián Jaroš - Defense - 1 Year/2-way - Jaroš hasn't played in the NHL since he was with the New Jersey Devils during the 21-22 season. He spent the last three years playing in the KHL and had some solid seasons. Jaroš also fits the profile of a typical Don Waddell defenseman - big. Standing at 6-foot-3 and weighing 225 pounds, he can handle physical play if needed. One scout said about Jaroš: "Defensman with good physical plays who has good timing for his hits and solid skating for his size. He has very good defensive skills and has the potential to be a rather good offensive defenseman, but he has to use his shot more often." The Blue Jackets could use more defensemen who like to shoot from the point. Ultimately, though, Jaroš will more than likely play in Cleveland with the Monsters, as they could use some depth right now after losing so many guys.

Subtractions

The Blue Jackets also lost a few guys to free agency. Forwards Justin Danforth(Buffalo), James van Reimsdyk(Detroit), Sean Kuraly(Boston), and Jordan Harris(Boston) are among the players who left in free agency who played every day for Columbus.

The Jackets could still very well add some guys for depth, especially in Cleveland, so be on the look out for more.

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