For the last 23 years (13 with The Hockey News) Dobber and his team have reviewed each team from a fantasy-hockey standpoint and graded them. The 24th annual review will appear here on DobberHockey throughout the summer. This is not a review of the likely performance on the ice or in the standings, but in the realm of fantasy hockey both for the season ahead as well as the foreseeable future. Offensively, will the team perform? Are there plenty of depth options worthy of owning in keeper leagues? What about over the next two or three years? These questions are what I take into consideration when looking at the depth chart and the player potential on that depth chart.

Gone: Boone Jenner, Mason Marchment, Brendan Gaunce, Zachary Aston-Reese

Incoming: Valeri Nichushkin, Luke Tuch, Pheonix Copley, Riley Bezeau, Ryan Lomberg, Colton White

Impact of Changes

Gone is captain Boone Jenner after 13 years and over 800 games of service. Gone, too, is gritty winger Mason Marchment after half a year and 39 games of service. The Blue Jackets traded for veteran Valeri Nichushkin to help offset much of that production and the 31-year-old wingman has bounce back appeal after a disappointing fantasy season in which he provided 49 points, but just 17 goals, in 72 games with the Colorado Avalanche. At even strength, Nichushkin likely slots in on the talented top line alongside Adam Fantilli and Kirill Marchenko, though a spot on the top power play unit is not necessarily guaranteed. It may be worth remembering that Nichushkin has never actually reached 30 goals or even 55 total points in a single season, but if he can stay healthy, he may be able to set career highs with his new club, especially if he can crack PP1. 

With Elvis Merzlikins out indefinitely following a recent shoulder surgery, Pheonix Copley may end up starting the season as the No. 2 netminder in Columbus. While the starts would be scarce behind incumbent Jet Greaves, the Blue Jackets had a top-five GAA after Rick Bowness stepped in as head coach. 

Ryan Lomberg should take on a fourth-line role with the Blue Jackets but likely averages less than 10 minutes of ice time per game. Lomberg offers little fantasy appeal, even in deep leagues, but he provides about 2 hits and a PIM per game, so if that's what you need from a stream, go nuts. 

Ready for Full Time

Luca Del Bel Belluz, 22, has appeared in a handful of NHL games in the last couple of seasons and has accumulated 10 points in 30 appearances so far. The young Canadian center has led the AHL Monsters in goals the past two seasons, highlighting a knack for tickling the twine. A second-round draft pick from 2022, Del Bel Belluz will look to earn a full-time gig out of training camp this fall and could be worth a watch as a middle-six scoring threat. 

Both Luca Pinelli and Jackson Smith should get some games with Columbus this season, but barring undeniable performances in training camp or a slew of injuries to the NHL roster, neither are likely to be full-time roster players in 2026-27.

Fantasy Outlook

The Blue Jackets boast elite fantasy talent in Zach Werenski. The 29-year-old Michigan native is coming off back-to-back seasons with at least 81 points, 260 SOG, and 21 PPP and should be the top Blue Jacket off the board in fantasy drafts.  Though his future in Columbus remains murky, his fantasy upside is clear as the reflection off his Norris Trophy. Ivan Provorov and Denton Mateychuk will get offensive opportunities with the second power play unit, but both of their ceilings are limited by having Werenski in front of them. Provorov managed 31 points, including five on the power play, and added 158 shots and 134 blocks while playing 82 games for the fourth straight season. Mateychuk, 22, provided 31 points in just over 19 minutes of ice time per game. The young defenseman will look to improve upon his 88 shots and 92 blocks from last season as he continues to develop into a potential top-pair D-man. 

The forward group is led by Russian sniper Kirill Marchenko who has scored 58 goals over the past two seasons on 425 shots. The 26-year-old added 83 assists, 42 PPP, and a plus-36 rating over that time and has the safest floor of any Blue Jacket forward. Adam Fantilli, 21, enters this season after putting up a career-high 59 points last year while offering tremendous category coverage, checking off boxes for SOG (214), PPP (13), HIT (139), BLK (51), and FOW (552). If he is able to take yet another step, expect the probable top line of Marchenko, Fantilli, and Nichushkin to provide superb fantasy value. 

Charlie Coyle was a surprisingly roster-able fantasy asset last season as he ended up scoring 58 points total including 13 on the power play. His face-off prowess kept him on the top power play unit for much of last season, but with the addition of Nichushkin and the expected growth from Kent Johnson, his role there has a few question marks. For what it's worth, Johnson never found much consistency once Rick Bowness took over head coaching duties, so if he struggles again early it's likely that Coyle could gain some of his minutes. Johnson, 22, was the fifth overall pick in the 2021 NHL entry draft and scored 57 points in 68 games in 2024-25, so it's still too early for the Blue Jackets (and fantasy managers) to pull the plug just yet. 

Managers in banger leagues need to be familiar with Mathieu Olivier's recent résumé. The gnarly forward has participated in 143 games and accumulated 58 Pt, 204 SOG, 240 PIM, 515 HIT, 122 BLK, and a plus-9 rating over the past two seasons. 

In net, Columbus will hand the keys to Greaves, once again, and he looks to be a great fantasy goalie option heading into 2026-27. After compiling 26 victories last year, Greaves will push for 30 this season, especially if he picks up some extra starts due to Merzlikins' early absence. Combine that volume with metrics that resemble his career averages of 2.61 GAA and .913 SV% and Greaves should be easily capable of turning in a top 10 fantasy performance at his position.    

Fantasy Grade: B- (Last year: B+)

Check out the rest of the Dobber team previews here.