The New Jersey Devils’ prospects wrapped up three games at the 2025 NHL Prospect Challenge in Buffalo this past week, finishing the tournament with a 2–1 record.

They opened with a dominant 8–2 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets, followed by a 4–2 victory against the host Buffalo Sabres. Their only loss came in the finale, a 6–4 setback to the Boston Bruins.

Prospect Challenge Roster Forwards: Tag Bertuzzi, Alexander Campbell, Brian Carrabes, Cole Davis, Josh Filmon, Caleb Hadland, Lenni Hämeenaho, Shane Lachance, Nathan Lecompte, Jack Malone, Matras Melovsky, David Rozsíval, Cam Squires, Dylan Wendt

Defensemen: Mikael Diotte, Seamus Casey, Jimmy Dowd Jr., Ethan Edwards, Jeremy Hanzel, Luke Reid, Jackson van de Leest

Goaltenders: Tyler Brennan, Trenten Bennett, Jakub Malek

Several players stood out during the tournament. Defenseman Seamus Casey appeared in just one game before resting for the season ahead, a decision that wasn’t surprising given his NHL experience last year following an impressive camp. Tag Bertuzzi and Mikael Diotte both finished with three points, while rookie goaltender Trenten Bennett, selected in this year’s NHL Draft, made his first start in a Devils sweater.

But the biggest impression came from Shane Lachance.

The 6-foot-5, 21-year-old defenseman played in two of the three games, collecting three points. His combination of offensive skill and physical presence, from scoring two goals to delivering big hits and even dropping the gloves, quickly put his name on the radar ahead of training camp.

Lachance was acquired from the Edmonton Oilers in March 2025 as part of a three-team deal that sent Trent Frederic out of New Jersey. A sixth-round pick in 2021, he spent the past two seasons at Boston University before turning pro.

Now, he’ll look to carry that momentum into Devils training camp, which begins tomorrow in Newark. While cracking the NHL roster won’t be easy, Lachance’s performance in Buffalo showed he could be a serious contender.

The New Jersey Devils’ prospects will be joined by the full roster tomorrow in Newark for the official start of 2025 training camp.

The prospects hit the ice a week earlier at the NHL Prospect Challenge in Buffalo, where they put together an impressive showing.

Prospect Challenge Roster Forwards: Tag Bertuzzi, Alexander Campbell, Brian Carrabes, Cole Davis, Josh Filmon, Caleb Hadland, Lenni Hämeenaho, Shane Lachance, Nathan Lecompte, Jack Malone, Matras Melovsky, David Rozsíval, Cam Squires, Dylan Wendt. Defensemen: Mikael Diotte, Seamus Casey, Jimmy Dowd Jr., Ethan Edwards, Jeremy Hanzel, Luke Reid, Jackson van de Leest. Goaltenders: Tyler Brennan, Trenten Bennett, Jakub Malek.

The Devils finished the tournament with a 2–1 record. They opened with a dominant 8–2 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets, followed by a 4–2 victory against the host Buffalo Sabres. Their only loss came in the finale, a 6–4 defeat to the Boston Bruins.

Now, attention turns to training camp, where the prospects will share the ice with the veterans while competing for spots on the 2025–26 roster. Among those who stood out in Buffalo was 20-year-old winger Lenni Hämeenaho.

Hämeenaho, listed at 6-foot-1 and 185 pounds, was a difference-maker during the tournament, especially in Game 2 against Buffalo, where his play helped swing momentum. Selected 58th overall in the 2023 NHL Draft, he has spent the past few seasons playing professionally in Finland, where his strong performances built anticipation for his North American debut.

Not only did Hämeenaho find the back of the net, but his hockey sense and quick decision-making drew praise and put his name firmly on the radar. While it remains likely he’ll begin the season with the AHL’s Utica Comets given the Devils’ depth, his showing in Buffalo sparked plenty of optimism about his NHL future.

Whether in Utica or New Jersey, Hämeenaho is giving fans a glimpse of the skill and promise that could make him a key part of the Devils’ future.

The puck drops on training camp in just 24 hours, and the New Jersey Devils are gearing up for another push at a successful season. A key factor will be staying healthy, something that has plagued the team in recent years and limited their playoff potential.

No player has felt that more than 24-year-old forward Jack Hughes.

Drafted first overall in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, Hughes has endured multiple season-altering injuries, including two major shoulder surgeries.

In 2021–22, Hughes was on pace for a career year with 26 goals and 30 assists in just 49 games before a hit from Islanders forward Oliver Wahlstrom caused an MCL sprain that required surgery. In 2023–24, Hughes put up 74 points in 62 games but missed roughly 20 contests after crashing into the boards in November, suffering another shoulder injury. And last season, he was once again off to a strong start when another upper-body injury struck. He returned briefly, but ultimately needed shoulder surgery that ended his season early—despite already recording 74 points in 62 games.

Hughes discussed his health and the season ahead with Elliotte Friedman and Kyle Bukauskas on Sportsnet’s 32 Thoughts podcast during the NHL Player Media Tour in Las Vegas.

“I’m feeling good right now. My body’s in a good spot, and I feel like my head is in a good spot too,” Hughes said. “I’m excited for the year to come.”

Now entering his seventh NHL season, Hughes says he’s ready to go. Tomorrow, he’ll hit the ice at training camp, hoping this year is finally the one where health and success go hand in hand.

Last week's report of Kirill Kaprizov rejecting an eight-year, $128-million contract offer from the Minnesota Wild garnered plenty of headlines.

It also stoked speculation over where the 28-year-old superstar left winger might end up if he and the Wild fail to hammer out an agreement.

The Hockey News' Jim Parsons examined which clubs had the salary-cap space and the potential interest to acquire Kaprizov via trade or next summer's free-agent market.

Most were rebuilding or retooling teams, such as the Anaheim Ducks, Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres, Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings, Philadelphia Flyers and the San Jose Sharks. The other was the Washington Capitals, which exceeded expectations last season by finishing first in the Eastern Conference.

Landing with a playoff contender carrying sufficient cap room to pay him big bucks could be enticing for Kaprizov. The Capitals must find a suitable replacement for franchise star and future Hall of Famer Alex Ovechkin, and Kaprizov could be a good fit if they're willing to pony up the dollars.

Meanwhile, Vince Z. Mercogliano of The Athletic thinks the New York Rangers could aggressively pursue Kaprizov if he becomes available in the trade market. He cited the many connections Kaprizov has with Rangers stars Artemi Panarin, Igor Shesterkin and recently acquired defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov.

As for the asking price, Mercogliano believes it could cost the Rangers a couple of first-round picks and a young player like Alexis Lafreniere. Moving the young winger's $7.45 million average annual value would free up cap room to sign Kaprizov and perhaps leave enough to retain Panarin if he agrees to a pay cut.

Clearing Lafreniere's cap hit would increase the Rangers' projected cap space to over $37 million for 2026-27, leaving plenty of room for Kaprizov and perhaps Panarin. However, Larry Brooks of the New York Post doesn't see the Rangers trading away draft picks and players for Kaprizov, only to sign him to between $16 million and $18 million.

Turning to the Boston Bruins, trade rumors have dogged Pavel Zacha throughout this summer. The versatile 28-year-old forward is in the third season of a four-year contract with an affordable average annual value of $4.75 million. He also carries an eight-team no-trade list.

Zacha's agent recently dismissed the trade chatter swirling around his client as “just rumors.” However, RG.Org's James Murphy cited sources claiming the Montreal Canadiens and Calgary Flames are among the clubs making inquiries into Zacha's availability.

Murphy indicated no deal was imminent, but trade scenarios had been discussed. His source said the Canadiens could be willing to part with forwards Joshua Roy and Oliver Kapanen and defenseman Jayden Struble in their quest for a second-line center. He also stated that the trade chatter wasn't coming from the Bruins, but from teams interested in Zacha.

The Bruins hope to rebound from last season's disastrous performance and return to playoff contention. They're not sellers right now, but that could change if they stumble from the gate and fail to gain ground in the standings.

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"It Just Felt Right" - Sept. 5 2025 - Vol. 79 Issue 2 - Ken Campbell

IT WAS SUCH A big deal that the premier of Manitoba and the mayor of Winnipeg were there, with many minions in tow, chronicling the event so they could show the hardworking folks exactly how their tax dollars are being spent. About 50 season-ticket holders won a contest to be there, too, and they cheered. Loudly. All because Jonathan Toews put a hockey sweater over his head. It was pretty monumental for the guest of honor, too, who hadn’t heard cheers like that since he played in Marian Hossa’s retirement charity game in Slovakia almost two years ago. At one point, Toews looked at Andree Gilbert, a wonderful ball of energy who was beaming in the front row and waving, and said, “Hi, Mom.”

If you’re getting the idea that Jonathan Toews being repatriated to his hometown team is a rather enormous development, well, like Andree Gilbert, your mother didn’t raise no dummy. That Toews is a big deal in his home province might have occurred to you in 2010, when they named a lake near Flin Flon after him. Yeah, a lake. Or when the Dakota Community Centre, in the St. Vital neighborhood where Toews grew up, was renamed the Jonathan Toews Sportsplex in 2014. Or when he received the Order of Manitoba a year later, joining Sheldon Kennedy and Reggie Leach as the only other hockey players to be recognized. (Jets chairman Mark Chipman and Hockey Night in Canada host Scott Oake are also members.)

Exclusive: Jets Goalie Prospect Domenic DiVincentiis Eyes NHL Debut in 2025Winnipeg Jets prospect Domenic DiVincentiis talks season goals with AHL All-Star Game, Calder Cup and NHL Debut in new exclusive interview with The Hockey News. 

STANLEY TO SHELF

After playing in the 2020 bubble playoffs, Toews missed the entire 2020-21 season due to long COVID.

Just to be clear, there have been some pretty good hockey players to come out of Winnipeg over the years. Bill Mosienko (who scored the fastest hat trick in NHL history), Terry Sawchuk, Andy Bathgate, Babe Pratt and Ken Reardon each have their receipts from the Hockey Hall of Fame. And Mark Stone and Seth Jarvis are ripping it up pretty good in the NHL these days. But none of them ever played big-league hockey in ‘The Peg.’ By our count, fewer than 20 local heroes have played for any one of the three iterations of the Jets – the WHA outfit and the NHL Jets 1.0 and 2.0 – and most of them fall into the “we-barely-knew-ye” category. One exception is goalie Joe Daley, who played more than 300 games with the WHA team and won three Avco Cups. There was one guy named Danny Johnson who played three seasons for the WHA Jets, and he was from Winnipegosis. Never heard of that place before. In fact, it sounds more like the affliction that befalls NHL players who put the Jets on their do-not-trade lists than it does an actual city.

It really got to a point where I couldn’t see myself wearing any other jersey- JONATHAN TOEWS ON COMING HOME TO WINNIPEG

Even though Toews has been out of the game for two years and has suffered some debilitating health issues, he probably could have gone somewhere a little warmer. Or where he’d be taxed a little less. Or where he could go out to dinner without being stared at. But he chose the Jets, who signed him to a one-year deal worth $2 million. With bonuses, that figure could jump as high as $7 million if the Jets win the Stanley Cup and Toews is a regular contributor. And wouldn’t that be something?

In the end, the decision wasn’t really a decision at all. And it didn’t even really have to make any sense. “It really got to a point where I couldn’t see myself wearing any other jersey,” Toews told reporters the day he was introduced in early July. “It wasn’t something where you write down the pros and cons on a piece of paper. To me, it wasn’t rational at all. It was more of an intuitive thing, where it just felt right. You can go over the million reasons why, but I didn’t have to call my mom or dad or my brother – anyone really. I just knew in my heart that this is what I wanted to do. So it felt good every step of the way.”

When John Tavares realized his dream of signing with his hometown team in 2018, he sent out a picture on social media of himself sleeping as a little fellow on his Toronto Maple Leafs bedsheets, which triggered an entire fan base on Long Island. When Toews signed with Winnipeg, he posted a photo of himself, his father and his little brother in garish Jets T-shirts that had SELANNE emblazoned across the chest from arm cuff to arm cuff. The only reason someone isn’t currently doing hard time for that crime against fashion is that it was the ’90s, and, for some reason, people thought that actually looked good.

(SERGEI BELSKI-IMAGN IMAGES)

I just knew in my heart that this is what I wanted to do. So it felt good every step of the way- JONATHAN TOEWS

Toews’ is a feel-good story by any metric. If his unconventional healing journey means he has recovered enough from Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS) and long COVID to the point he can make a meaningful contribution to the Jets in their quest for a long playoff run, there’s the potential for some magical moments. (Who knows, if Toews comes out of the gates blazing, does Team Canada Olympic GM Doug Armstrong consider him for the role as the 13th forward in Milan?)

At the very worst, the 37-year-old future Hall of Famer gets an opportunity to go out on his own terms with the team he grew up worshipping. Nothing wrong with that. “I’m not going to sit here and talk about goals and assists and all that,” Toews said. “Ultimately, I will try my best to be honest and realistic with myself as far as what the challenges are. Since I hit the ice and have really been skating these last months, it didn’t feel like that much time had gone by. It is a long time on paper if you are playing hockey. I’m trying to be realistic about what the challenges are.”

Jets Prospect Showcase Takeaways: Zhilkin, DiVincentiis Within Reach Of NHL JumpWinnipeg prospects Dominic DiVincentiis, Danny Zhilkin lead pack as most notable names entering Jets training camp following impressive performances at Prospect Showcase. 

PAST BECOMES PRESENT

Toews showed his excitement for joining his hometown team by posting a childhood photo to Instagram.

One of the biggest challenges for Toews, aside from tempering expectations, will be maintaining the on-ice pace among the best players in the world after missing two seasons while already in his mid-30s in a league that certainly didn’t get any slower in his absence.

And even though there are some examples of Hall of Fame players sitting on the sidelines for at least two seasons at that point in their careers, it’s not a large sample size. Gordie Howe first retired from the NHL just after turning 43 and sat out two years, then dominated the WHA when he came back as a 45-year-old – even playing a final NHL season at 51 after six in the WHA. Mario Lemieux missed three seasons after his first retirement at 31, then came back and was spectacular. Even though he suited up for only 170 of the 324 games Pittsburgh played between his re-debut and his curtain call in his final five NHL seasons, he scored 229 points in that time.

Conversely, Guy Lafleur retired for three seasons at 33 and was just OK when he came back. Dickie Moore sat out two years and returned to join the expansion St. Louis Blues at 36, and it became clear pretty quickly he simply didn’t have it.

But none of those players, including Lemieux, came back at that age from such debilitating circumstances. In reality, Toews hasn’t been himself for about five years. Don’t forget that prior to playing his final two seasons with the Blackhawks, Toews missed the entire truncated 2020-21 season due to a case of long COVID that made it almost impossible for him to get out of bed on some days. He struggled along with the Blackhawks for the next two seasons before becoming a UFA, but he never ended up going to market. Because he simply couldn’t. The affliction Toews has cannot be cured because it’s a syndrome, not a disease, usually associated with exposure to biotoxins. And it’s one that not only left him unable to prepare for or perform in the NHL but also feeling confused and confounded.

I realized, with or without hockey, I wanted to take care of my body. I had kind of accepted I might not play again- JONATHAN TOEWS

Still, they don’t call him ‘Captain Serious’ for nothing. Despite the setbacks, Toews took control of his health, and he now sounds like someone who has a new lease on life. The journey was unconventional, and Toews left no stone unturned, drastically altering his lifestyle and diet. His quest for health took him on an Eat, Pray, Love-type of odyssey to India, where he immersed himself in a practice called Ayurveda, undergoing a five-week detox known as Panchakarma, which is designed to release the toxins stored in the body – toxins that were making him ill.

Toews occasionally talked about his healing journey in India, which included mud baths, pain-inducing massages, yoga sessions, fire-prayer ceremonies and pooping. Lots of pooping. “I realized that, with or without hockey, I wanted to take care of my body,” Toews said. “I wanted to do the right things. I wanted to let life go where it’s supposed to go. I got to the point where I pretty much needed to get myself off a timeline to return. So, in my mind, I had kind of accepted in a way that I might not return to play again. And while it was a challenging thing to do, at the same time, a very healthy thing to do, to wake up every day and not think, ‘This is where we’re going.’ ”

That’s pretty un-Captain-Serious-like. But it worked. After accepting life on life’s terms, Toews began to get healthy. More strength led to longer workouts, which led to feeling good on the ice, which led to Toews believing he could still play in the NHL and make an impact.

And if he’s right, the Jets will have strength to die for down the middle. Adam Lowry is expected to be out until at least the end of October after hip surgery, but when the Jets are whole, their top three centers are Mark Scheifele, Lowry and Toews. In Scheifele, the Jets have a play-driving talent. In Lowry, they have a two-way demon who fights for every inch of the ice and makes every shift as fun as taking on Nick Tarnasky on the golf course. And in Toews, the Jets potentially have another guy who can tilt the ice at both ends and provide the kind of experience and guidance they need. There is nothing Toews has not seen during his career.

“Teams talk about being in those moments,” said Jets coach Scott Arniel. “That’s why those guys who have won championships, won Stanley Cups, are so important. We brought Luke Schenn in this year, and there were times where just him being around a Cup and having that experience and what he said (helped). If it’s one of our third-line players or one of our defensemen or if it’s Adam Lowry having a quiet conversation with him at dinner or in the dressing room, just picking his brain – to be able to do that just speeds up the process. You’re going to pay attention because he’s lived it, he’s done it, and he’s won everywhere that he’s been.”

Divisional Focus: Jets Look to Snap Losing Skid versus Last-Place PredatorsThe Winnipeg Jets aim to win three crucial divisional games over the Nashville Predators next season after losing four of their last seven matchups. 

When Toews steps out onto the ice in October, it will be his first game action in more than two calendar years.

You’re going to pay attention because he’s lived it, he’s done it, and he’s won everywhere that he’s been- JETS COACH SCOTT ARNIEL

Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff acknowledged that Chipman has dreamed of this scenario basically since the Jets returned to Winnipeg in 2011. And now, it’s reality – at least for one season. Maybe more. The Jets have done a remarkable job of keeping players around, but they haven’t been able to keep them all. After 10 seasons, Nikolaj Ehlers took advantage of free agency and left, but the acquisition of Toews has helped remove some of the sting from that departure. Contrary to the words of Thomas Wolfe, you can actually go home again.

Toews really has nothing to prove, and this is a low-risk investment for the Jets, too. It will take some time to adjust to Toews not wearing the Blackhawks’ uniform, but the hockey world has had two years to ease itself into that reality. Toews is in a good place with his health and outlook. And he’s in a great place when it comes to putting the final touches on his career, regardless of how it turns out. Someday, there will probably be a statue of Toews outside the United Center, like there is of Dale Hawerchuk in front of the Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg. But for now, Toews is focused on the new sweater, not the old one.

“Things change,” he said. “And it is for the best sometimes.”

Jets Announce Training Camp Roster and ScheduleThe Winnipeg Jets have announced their training camp roster and schedule for the upcoming week's training camp. 

Lukas Riechel, a former first-round pick, has had an up-and-down tenure with the Chicago Blackhawks. He is an incredibly skilled player, but he hasn't been able to stick in a top-six role.

His strengths also may not be best suited for a bottom-six role, so it's been frustrating for him and the team. For this reason, moving him could be on the table for Kyle Davidson and his staff. 

On a recent episode of 32 Thoughts: The Podcast, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman implied that he could be on the trade block now. 

“I just think that it's a name that's out there, that [Reichel's] name is out there," Friedman said. "And I think it's understood that the Blackhawks are willing to make the move if they find a trade partner. And I think the player understands it might be time, too. So I've just heard that as we go into camp, that's just a name that's out there.”

For a season like 2025-26, the Chicago Blackhawks could give Reichel some ice on all four lines to see where he fits. This might not be something that benefits the player or team, though, so trading him could be for the best. 

There have been instances where struggling first-round picks change the way they play and end up having long NHL careers in a different role than they were expecting when they were first drafted. However, the player has to be willing to do that, and sometimes it is impossible to come with their first team. 

If the Blackhawks can find a trade partner, all they'd be hoping for is a pick or prospect to come back in return. It certainly wouldn't be an asset that moves the needle, but it could be something that helps with depth in the future. 

Moving on from a disgruntled player would be the main return on the trade for the Blackhawks anyway. Getting anything of value in this situation would be a win. 

For the team acquiring Reichel, they'd be taking a low risk to gain a talented player with upside. If they can get him to accept and execute a role on their team, it would benefit everyone. 

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay updated on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

Kevin Dahl - 2001 - Drafted by the Montréal Canadiens in the 1988 draft.

Dahl played 4 games for the Jackets during the 2000-01 season and had 0 points. After his time in Columbus ended, he wouldn't play another NHL game.

The former Bowling Green State University Falcon played three years in Germany before finally retiring in 2004. He played for the Nürnberg Ice Tigers of the DEL before retiring. 

Blake Sloan - 2001-2002 - Undrafted out of Park Ridge, Illinois.

Sloan played 74 games for the Jackets and had 10 points in parts of two seasons for Columbus, including the inaugural season.

He spent the last 8 years of his career playing in Sweden for a year, and in the DEL for the last seven. 

Darren Van Impe - 2003 - Drafted by the New York Islanders in 1993. 

He played 14 games for the Jackets during the 2002-03 season and had 2 points. He would never play another NHL after his time in Columbus. 

He left for Europe in 2003, playing in Germany until 2008. 

Manny Malhotra - 2004-2009 - Drafted by the New York Rangers in 1998.

Malhotra was the ultimate competitor. He played 344 games for Columbus and had 145 points from 2003 to 2009. After leaving Columbus, he would play another 7 seasons, including playing 23 games for the Lake Erie Monsters in 2015-16.

He retired after that last season and moved into coaching. After spending several years with the Vancouver Canucks and Toronto Maple Leafs, he was named head coach of the AHL's Abbotsford Canucks in 2024. In his first season as head coach, he led his team to a Calder Cup Championship. 

Ryan Murray - 2014-2020 - Drafted by the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2012. 

Oh, what could have been with Ryan Murray. The former #2 overall pick in 2012 played 347 games for the CBJ and had 110 points. The oft-injured defenseman only played 82 games in a season once and played over 60 games only twice.

He won a Stanley Cup with Colorado in 2022 and played for the Edmonton Oilers in the 2022-23 season, but hasn't had a contract since. 

Zac Dalpe - 2018 - Drafted by the Carolina Hurricanes in 2008. 

The former Ohio State Buckeye forward played 25 games for the Jackets and had 4 career points. Where Dalpe made his money was in the AHL, playing for six different franchises, including five with the Cleveland Monsters.

Dalpe played in 133 games for the Monsters and had 100 points. For his career, he played 574 games and totaled 393 points. On July 7, 2025, Dalpe retired from hockey and was hired by the Seattle Kraken as a Development Coach. 

Adam Boqvist - 2022-2024 - Drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks in 2018. 

Boqvist played 133 games for Columbus after being traded from the Chicago Blackhawks in 2021. He was not offered a contract last summer by new GM Don Waddell and was allowed to sign elsewhere. He joined the Florida Panthers last season but was placed on waivers. The New York Islanders picked him up and would spend the rest of the season there. On May 30, 2025, the Islanders re-signed Boqvist to a one-year, $850,000 contract extension.

Zach Aston-Reese - 2025 - Undrafted out of Staten Island, New York. 

On July 1, 2024, Aston-Reese signed a one-year deal with the Vegas Golden Knights. Vegas put him on waivers on October 7, 2024, and the Jackets swooped in and claimed him. He played in 79 games for Columbus last season and had 17 points. ZAR provided leadership and experience to a locker room trying to deal with the loss of Johnny Gaudreau. 

Zach Aston-Reese is signed to a 1 year, $775,000 contract extension on January 13, 2025. Aston-Reese collaborated with the Gaudreau Family 5K to design the medals awarded to participants in the 5K. 

Who is your favorite #27? Please share your thoughts on our forum.

Blue Jackets’ 2025-26 Training Camp and Pre-Season

Next up is training camp, which kicks off on Wednesday, Sept. 18. Camp will run until the pre-season begins and then transition directly into the full pre-season schedule. Here’s what the Blue Jackets have lined up so far.

After the first few days of camp, most rookies who received an invite will be cut and sent back to their junior teams. From there, the cuts will come more often as pre-season play gets underway.

The pre-season schedule is as follows:

Sunday, Sept. 21 vs. St. Louis Blues, 5 p.m. ET

Monday, Sept. 22 vs. Buffalo Sabres, 7 p.m. ET

Tuesday, Sept. 23 at Buffalo Sabres, 7 p.m. ET

Wednesday, Sept. 24 vs. Pittsburgh Penguins, 7 p.m. ET

Saturday, Sept. 27 at Pittsburgh Penguins, 7 p.m. ET

Tuesday, Sept. 30 vs. Washington Capitals, 7 p.m. ET

Saturday, Oct. 4 at Washington Capitals, 7 p.m. ET

* Games in bold are home games * 

After that, the Blue Jackets will open the regular season on the road against the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena.

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