The Blue Jackets have come out of the gate doing one thing at an elite level: taking control at the faceoff dot.
Through four games, Columbus has won 136 of 232 draws, a 58.6% clip that puts the club first in the league by a full 4%. That gap matters, especially when the league’s middle class is packed tight - the difference between second and 17th is only 4.4%. For a little extra context, the Boston Bruins’ 56.39% mark in 2012-13 stands as the NHL record.
Adam Fantilli has been the biggest reason why. Columbus’ top center leads the league at 77.1%, having won 54 of 70 faceoffs. The single-season record is 65.03%, set by Michael McLeod in 2023-24, and Fantilli has steadily improved every season when it comes to his work at the dot.
Charlie Coyle has also given the Blue Jackets a strong result, sitting second in the league at 63.8% after winning 37 of 58 faceoffs.
Not everyone in the middle has been as sharp. Sean Monahan is at 43.1%, and Danton Heinen sits at 44.0%.
The split by situation is even more eye-catching. Columbus has won 56.9% of its draws at even strength, 75.0% on the power play, 61.9% while shorthanded, 60.5% in the offensive zone, 42.3% in the neutral zone, and 70.6% in the defensive zone.
If those numbers hold, they could add up to a very good season for Columbus.
The Blue Jackets are back home Tuesday against the Florida Panthers.
In Other News...
Blue Jackets Have An Early Lineup Problem Luca Del Bel Belluz Could Solve
The Blue Jackets have spent the first stretch of the season looking like a team with enough scoring punch to stay in games, but not quite enough structure to keep them tidy at the other end. Through four games, Columbus has produced 12 goals and given up 14, a split that points to a roster still searching for the right balance, especially among its forward groups.
One possible answer is waiting in the wings in Luca Del Bel Belluz, whose presence would give the coaching staff another way to shuffle the middle-six mix and smooth out some of the early unevenness. Columbus has options, and the question now is less about whether there are enough forwards to work with than which combination can bring more consistency, deeper support and a lineup that better fits the way this team wants to play. [Read more 🡒]
Blue Jackets Just Sent A Small But Telling Message On Riley Bezeau
The Blue Jackets made a quiet roster move with Riley Bezeau, activating the forward from injured, non-roster status and sending him back to the Cleveland Monsters. It was the kind of transaction that can be easy to miss, but it did come with a notable wrinkle: Columbus also named him one of its alternate captains for the season.
For a player headed back to the AHL, thats a small but telling sign of how the organization views him. Bezeau may be on the move again in the standings sense, but the Blue Jackets clearly still want his presence in the mix, whether that means leadership in Cleveland now or a larger role later if circumstances open a door in Columbus. [Read more 🡒]
Denton Mateychuk Is Headed Toward A Blue Jackets Payday Debate
Denton Mateychuk is getting close to the point where his next Blue Jackets contract becomes more than a backdrop conversation. The young defenseman is entering the final season of his entry-level deal in Columbus, and his camp has already made clear it would be open to discussing an extension if the terms make sense.
For now, the situation is mostly about timing and value, two things that can move quickly once a team sees a player as part of its long-term core. Comparisons around the league suggest Mateychuk is the kind of defenseman whose next deal could land well above the usual bridge range, which is exactly why his next step is the sort of decision Columbus will want to get right before the market gets any louder. [Read more 🡒]