5 meltdowns that kept Columbus Blue Jackets out of NHL playoffs Failure to protect late leads was the Blue Jackets' biggest failure in 2025-26, keeping them out of the NHL's Stanley Cup Playoffs.

#CBJ season-wrap reads @dispatch.com ->

5 costly meltdowns (among many) www.dispatch.com/story/sports...

Severson's watches a season end without him again, for a very different reason
www.dispatch.com/story/sports...

Olivier has no regrets about fight injury
www.dispatch.com/story/sports...

Columbus Blue Jackets have 1.5% chance to win NHL draft lottery The Columbus Blue Jackets have a 1.5% chance to win the NHL draft lottery May 5, a scant chance to pick higher than 14th overall.

So, you're telling me there's a chance ... #CBJ draft lottery odds ->

www.dispatch.com/story/sports...

#CBJ ICYMI

6 offseason tasks for Columbus Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell' Columbus Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell has a busy offseason, from negotiating free agency to scouting the draft to monitoring the summer trade market.

#CBJ GM Don Waddell will be busy again this offseason.

www.dispatch.com/story/sports...

Columbus Blue Jackets agree to contract extension with coach Rick Bowness Columbus Blue Jackets coach Rick Bowness has agreed to return as head coach next season.

We've got you covered on Rick Bowness content.

Story -> www.dispatch.com/story/sports...

Video -> www.dispatch.com/videos/sport...

It’s official #CBJ POHO/GM Don Waddell confirms Rick Bowness will return as head coach.

Columbus Blue Jackets agree to contract extension with coach Rick Bowness According to NHL insider reports, Columbus Blue Jackets coach Rick Bowness has agreed to return as head coach next season.

Waiting for confirmation from the #CBJ on this, but per multiple insiders ... Bowness is back.

www.dispatch.com/story/sports...

#CBJ F Mathieu Olivier just met with reporters via Zoom. Highlights of the chat:

- Broke a bone in fight w/Kastelic
- Doesn't regret accepting the fight
- Might've played Game 82 if playoffs had still been possible
- Would've been ready Game 1 of playoffs
- Would love Bowness to stay

Zach Werenski, Ivan Provorov, Sean Monahan and Boone Jenner have all met with media this morning on #CBJ locker clear out day. All, in their own ways, disagreed with coach Rick Bowness' postgame comments about them not caring enough about losing.

Also sounds like all would like him to return too.

Rick Bowness on future: 'If I'm back, we're changing this culture' Rick Bowness gave no indication whether he'll return as Columbus Blue Jackets' coach but says a culture change is coming if he returns.

"... the players were told tonight. If I’m back, we’re changing this freakin' culture."

#CBJ

www.dispatch.com/story/sports...

That's some collective sports fan pain right there ... but the Cubbies and Hoosiers have come through for ya.

Last time Ovechkin faces Columbus Blue Jackets? Live updates Alex Ovechkin facing Columbus Blue Jackets in season finale that might be the last NHL game the Washington Capitals superstar plays.

Tonight's #CBJ live blog ->

www.dispatch.com/story/sports...

I know. It's brutal.

I hear ya, man. I came here in 2017 from Chicago and three Cups. I was excited about this team because they were a playoff team back then, had Panarin, Bobrovsky ... and they just continue to break hearts every single year. It's unreal.

Columbus Blue Jackets coach Rick Bowness on missing playoffs Columbus Blue Jackets head coach Rick Bowness talks about his team's heartbreak at falling short of qualifying for the NHL's Stanley Cup Playoffs.

#CBJ videos from a.m. skate today. Lots of hurt in that room.

Bowness
www.dispatch.com/videos/sport...

Fantilli

www.dispatch.com/videos/sport...

Coyle
www.dispatch.com/videos/sport...

#ALLCAPS coach Spencer Carbury confirms that Alex Ovechkin will
play tonight vs #CBJ

They just HAVE to figure out how to protect more multi-goal leads, especially in third periods, and how to score more goals during those stretches when they dominate the ice.

Columbus Blue Jackets eliminated from playoff race Philadelphia Flyers end Columbus Blue Jackets' bid to qualify for the playoffs by taking Carolina Hurricanes to overtime.

Well, it's official. The #CBJ are cooked. Capitals too.

www.dispatch.com/story/sports...

Second college FA signing in as many days for the #CBJ ... second Frozen Four player and this one, Boston Buckberger, is a two-timenational champion D for U of Denver. This is after the Jackets inked Michigan F Josh Eernisse to a one-year ELC starting next season.

Whistle muddles end of Columbus Blue Jackets' loss to Boston Bruins Columbus Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski thought NHL referee stopped play with whistle tweet o before final draw in Boston Bruins' 3-2 win. He didn't.

Lots of #CBJ content @dispatch.com right now, including this piece on Whistlegate at the end of the game, with video of comments from Werenski and Bowness ->

www.dispatch.com/story/sports...

Spoke to an NHL spokesman who confirmed Gord Dwyer did blow his whistle but not in a way used to stop play. Apparently, he tried to get the Boston bench's attention to see if they wanted a timeout. Play started & he judged that his short tweet of the whistle didn't affect the play's outcome.

#CBJ

Screengrabs courtesy of FanDuel. The first (left) shows NHL referee Gord Dwyer with his left hand to his mouth, as if blowing a whistle, which #CBJ D Zach Werenski says he did to stop play prior to the game's final draw.

Second (right) shows Dwyer talking to the Bruins' bench as play continues.

Columbus Blue Jackets host Boston Bruins. Follow live Follow live NHL coverage of Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Boston Bruins, including scores, updates and analysis.

OK, here's tonight's @dispatch.com #CBJ live blog link ->

www.dispatch.com/story/sports...

#NHLBruins coach Marco Sturm confirms Joonas Korpisalo will start against his former team tonight in Columbus. The Bruins will also sit some regulars who need a game off for physical reasons.

Those sitting vs #CBJ include Arvidsson, Zacha and McAvoy.

Greaves gets the start again and Bowness says there will be gametime decisions again, including who handles the sixth D spot.

#CBJ

It's been many years since I've golfed, but that off camera "tink" ... that's a sound I know all too well.

Former Monsters head coach in #CBJ system ... this was awful to watch.

He'll have to face the music at some point.

Columbus Blue Jackets hammer Montreal Canadiens for big win. Replay Replay live NHL coverage of Columbus Blue Jackets' impressive road win over Montreal Canadiens, including scores, updates and analysis.

#CBJ reads going into Game 81 after a big win in Game 80 ->

Replay -> www.dispatch.com/story/sports...

Takeaways: Where's that been all season?
www.dispatch.com/story/sports...

Blue Jackets playoff tracker: Too little, too late?
www.dispatch.com/story/sports...

I worded that poorly. Only two are from the Montreal area, including one (Pierre Lambert) who's from a Montreal suburb.

But ... still not great.