Columbus has signed Guillaume Richard to a two-year, entry-level contract.
Columbus Blue Jackets News
Fabbro (undisclosed) is being further evaluated on Monday but is hopeful to play on Tuesday vs. Nashville.
Fabbro is battling an undisclosed injury but could be ready to play on Tuesday against the Nashville Predators. The 26-year-old Fabbro is averaging a career-high 21:53 time-on-ice, recording 20 points (6G / 14A), 118 blocks, and 60 hits in 52 games with the Blue Jackets this season.
Fabbro (undisclosed) is not expected to play in Ottawa on Saturday.
Christiansen will draw into the Blue Jackets lineup on Saturday.
Goalie Start
Tarasov will start in Ottawa on Saturday.
Sillinger (shoulder) is on the ice for warmups and is expected to play on Friday.
Sillinger missed the last 11 games with a shoulder injury but will play Friday with the Canucks. Sillinger, who has 29 points (9G / 20A) in 54 games this season, will skate on the third line with Justin Danforth and Mathieu Olivier.
Goalie Start
Merzlikins will start vs. Vancouver on Friday.
The Blue Jackets snapped a six-game losing skid in their most recent outing when Merzlikins saved 30 of 33 shots (.909 SV%) in a 4-3 win over the New York Islanders. They will roll Merzlikins between the pipes on Friday against the Vancouver Canucks as they try to stay within reach of a Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference. The 30-year-old Merzlikins has a 3.03 GAA and .896 SV% in 47 games this season (23-19-5). The Blue Jackets enter Friday's contest as -125 home favorites against a Canucks squad riding a two-game winning streak.
Goalie Start
Merzlikins will likely get the start Friday vs. the Canucks.
Columbus has signed Caleb MacDonald to a two-year, entry-level contract.
MacDonald is a 22-year-old undrafted free agent out of the University of North Dakota. The 6-foot-3, 224 lbs. left-shot blueliner finished his second NCAA season with three goals and seven assists (10 points) in 46 games. MacDonald’s contract will begin in 2025-26.
Columbus has signed Charlie Elick to a three-year, entry-level contract.
Elick was a second-round pick, 36th overall, of the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. The 19-year-old defenseman has spent the past four seasons in the WHL. He has eight points (2G / 6A) in 33 games with the Tri-City Americans (WHL) this season.
Christiansen (upper-body) has been cleared and could return on Friday vs. Vancouver.
Christiansen has not played since March 13th but appears to be nearing an immediate return to the lineup. The 25-year-old defenseman is averaging 12:43 time-on-ice and has eight points (1G / 7A) in 65 games this season.
Sillinger (upper-body) has been cleared and is a possibility to return vs. Vancouver on Friday.
Sillinger has not played since February 27th but appears to be nearing an immediate return to the lineup. The 21-year-old forward was averaging 17:18 time-on-ice and scored 29 points (9G / 20A) in 54 games before his injury.
Columbus has signed Jack Williams to a two-year, entry-level contract.
Williams is an undrafted forward that has spent the previous three seasons playing collegiate hockey for Northeastern University (H-East). The 23-year-old Williams scored 41 points (16G / 25A) in 37 games with Northeastern this season.
Monahan (wrist) will return to Columbus' lineup on Monday vs. New York.
Monahan has not played since suffering a wrist injury in early January but will make his return to the lineup on Monday against the New York Islanders. The 30-year-old Monahan was producing at a point-per-game pace before his injury for only the second time in his career, with 41 points (14G / 27A) in 41 games. He is expected to play on the Blue Jackets' top line with Dmitri Voronkov and Kirill Marchenko.
Gudbranson (shoulder) will return to Columbus lineup on Monday on Long Island.
Gudbranson only played three games this season before suffering a shoulder injury and undergoing surgery in October. The 33-year-old is in his 14th NHL season, his third with Columbus, and is slated to make his return to the lineup on Monday against the New York Islanders.
Goalie Start
Merzlikins will start on Long Island on Monday.
The Blue Jackets, amid a six-game losing skid (0-5-1), are desperately trying to stay in contention for a Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference and will turn to Merzlikins between the pipes on Monday against the New York Islanders. The 30-year-old Merzlikins struggled in his most recent outing, allowing five goals on 33 shots (.848 SV%) in a 6-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. He has a 3.04 GAA and .896 SV% in 46 games this season (22-19-5). The Blue Jackets enter Monday's contest as +114 road underdogs against an Islanders team with points in five straight games (2-0-3).
Gudbranson (shoulder) is on track to return on Monday on Long Island after practicing in full on Sunday.
Monahan (wrist) is on track to return on Monday in New York after practicing in full on Sunday.
Greaves was returned to Cleveland (AHL) from his emergency loan.
Tarasov (illness) is out vs. Pittsburgh on Friday.
The Blue Jackets are playing the tail end of a back-to-back on Friday and were anticipating having Tarasov tend the twine, but he is battling an illness and will not be able to suit up. Elvis Merzlikins will start for the second consecutive night.