Aaron Portzline

The Athletic | Front & Nationwide pod | PHWA

[Aaron Portzline @Aportzline]

The Athletic: Blue Jackets Monday Gathering
1. RFAs, like #CBJ Adam Fantilli, now have enormous power/leverage
2. Arbitration is no longer such a feared process
3. Snacks: key #CBJ AHLers will need waivers, 2026-27 schedule out Thursday, new numbers, etc
https://t.co/p5ipZhC27f

[Aaron Portzline @Aportzline]

@DMaetzMedia Or a rabid Cheetoh eater. #cunchynotpuffs

[Aaron Portzline @Aportzline]

@ManninTheCannon July 16

[Aaron Portzline @Aportzline]

#CBJ now have arbitration hearing dates for G Jet Greaves and F Cole Sillinger should their continuing talks not reach a contract first.

Greaves' hearing would be July 23, and Sillinger's July 27, both in Toronto.

#CBJ will request a one-year contract ruling in both cases.

[Aaron Portzline @Aportzline]

The Athletic: #CBJ prospect D Jackson Smith is an elite skater and offensive talent, but it’s on the other end of the ice where the biggest strides have been made.

A look at the four first-round picks after this year’s #CBJ development camp:
https://t.co/gRYkD8bROM

[Aaron Portzline @Aportzline]

@DavePisula Not as yet.

[Aaron Portzline @Aportzline]

AHL Cleveland 2026-27 schedule:
@monstershockey

[Aaron Portzline @Aportzline]

@mstuart142 See second item.

[Aaron Portzline @Aportzline]

The Athletic: #CBJ prospect D Jackson Smith is an elite skater and offensive talent, but it’s on the other end of the ice where the biggest strides have been made.

A look at the four first-round picks after this year’s #CBJ development camp:
https://t.co/gRYkD8bROM

[Anaheim Ducks @AnaheimDucks]

Five more years of LEO!
https://t.co/3uscSK2GmJ

[Elliotte Friedman @FriedgeHNIC]

The Ducks have matched the Leo Carlsson offer sheet

[Cleveland Monsters @monstershockey]

Monsters President, Mike Ostrowski 🟰 James C. Hendy Award Recipient 🏆

Under Mike's leadership, the Cleveland Monsters set franchise attendance records, led the AHL in attendance for a fourth straight year, expanded TV coverage to a record 30+ local broadcasts through @watchrocksports, and secured the 2027 AHL All-Star Classic for the city of Cleveland. Celebrating 15 years with the Monsters and 27 with @RockEntGroup, Mike continues to drive the organization's growth and impact! 👏

📰: https://t.co/JBOPPnfpn4

[Aaron Portzline @Aportzline]

#CBJ sign G Sergei Ivanov to a two-year entry level contract. He will remain on loan in Russia for this coming season — the ELC will slide — then come to North America in 2027-28.

[The Athletic NHL @TheAthleticNHL]

The NHL offseason has been in full swing for a few weeks now.

@DownGoesBrown picks eight teams that have had a particularly rough start to the player empowerment era and which fan bases should be most insulted by the offseason so far.

Free to read: https://t.co/x9jI7Ye7j4

[Aaron Portzline @Aportzline]

@monstershockey 2026-27 home opener is Oct. vs. Grand Rapids. Full AHL schedule out on Thursday.

NHL schedule release is set for July16

[Chris Johnston @reporterchris]

Utah has matched the #NJDevils offer sheet to Barrett Hayton, signing him to a one-year deal worth $4.775 million

[Aaron Portzline @Aportzline]

#CBJ Luca Del Bel Belluz will wear No. 93.

Wore it first: Jakub Voráček
Wore it last: Jakub Voráček
Wore it best: Jakub Voráček

[Aaron Portzline @Aportzline]

#CBJ Ryan Lomberg will wear No. 94. He will be the first Blue Jackets player to wear that sweater number.

Others that have never been issued: 60, 63, 66, 68, 69, 76, 79, 84, 85, 87, 98, and 99.

[Aaron Portzline @Aportzline]

#CBJ Valeri Nichushkin will wear No. 43.

Wore it first: Jan Caloun
Wore it last: Danton Heinen
Wore it best: Scott Hartnell

[Columbus Blue Jackets @BlueJacketsNHL]

NEW NAMES & NEW NUMBERS!