The Columbus Blue Jackets may have a hole worth testing before training camp, and Michael Bunting fits the kind of low-risk swing that can make sense on a professional tryout.
That idea gets more interesting when you look at what Columbus lost this offseason. Boone Jenner and Mason Marchment both departed in free agency, leaving the Blue Jackets with a roster that could use another look in camp. A PTO wouldn’t lock the team into anything, but it would give them a chance to see whether Bunting can still help.
Bunting is still sitting in free agency after a rough 2025-26 season. In 74 games with the Nashville Predators and Dallas Stars, he put up 14 goals and 33 points. His numbers dropped sharply after the trade to Dallas, where he managed just one goal and one assist in 13 games.
Even with that finish, there’s enough recent production to keep him on the radar. In 2024-25, Bunting scored 19 goals and totaled 38 points in 76 games between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Predators.
The year before that, he posted 19 goals and 55 points in 81 games. Those seasons show a player who has found offense recently and could still have something to offer if the fit is right.
For Columbus, the appeal is simple. A PTO would carry little risk, and if Bunting earned a contract, he could give the bottom six a boost. If he didn’t fit, the Blue Jackets could move on without much consequence.
In Other News...
Blue Jackets Contender Push Hits A Prospect Problem Fans Cant Ignore
As the Blue Jackets try to build toward a more competitive stretch, the organizations prospect pipeline is drawing extra attention for reasons that are not entirely comfortable. Columbus has gone more than three years without signing any of its own first-round draft picks, and the most prominent young names in the system are still at least a step away from helping the NHL roster. The group headlined by Cayden Lindstrom, Jackson Smith and Oscar Hemming is spread out across college and overseas, which leaves the front office leaning on patience at a time when fans would prefer quicker answers.
For now, the nearest internal options are names like Luca Del Bel Belluz and Luca Pinelli, both of whom have at least put themselves in the conversation for a future look. Even so, their exact roles and readiness remain open questions, which is part of what makes the current picture so tricky for Columbus. The Blue Jackets want a stronger base of young talent to support the next push, but the path from prospect stockpile to useful NHL help is still uneven. [Read more 🡒]
Spencer Knight Gives Blackhawks Fans A Real Reason To Believe
The next wave of elite NHL goaltenders may already be taking shape, and Jet Greaves is right in the middle of it. After a season that put him on the map in Columbus, the young Blue Jackets goalie is being discussed alongside Jesper Wallstedt and Spencer Knight as one of the names to watch heading toward the 2026-27 race for the Vezina Trophy. With several familiar faces around the league either aging out of the conversation or facing some natural regression, there is room for a fresh crop of candidates to break through.
Greaves rise matters for the Blue Jackets because it gives them more than just stability in net, it gives them a potential star to build around if his progress keeps trending in the same direction. The league has also leaned heavily on Russian goaltenders in recent Vezina races, but the opening for a new finalist is there if one of these younger goalies keeps taking steps forward. For Columbus, the appeal is obvious: if Greaves can keep growing, the conversation around the team changes fast. [Read more 🡒]
Blue Jackets Fans Will Always Connect No. 51 To One Franchise Favorite
Jersey No. 51 has had a few turns through the Columbus Blue Jackets over the years, but one name still sits above the rest in the minds of fans. Andrew Delmore, Andy Murray and Fedor Tyutin all wore it in Columbus, each leaving a different kind of imprint on the franchise as the number worked its way through the early seasons of the organization. For a sweater that has not been worn by a long list of players, it still carries a meaningful slice of team history.
Tyutin is the one who made the number feel permanent. After arriving in Columbus, he became one of the best defensemen in franchise history and spent years giving the Blue Jackets a steady presence on the back end. Even after his playing career ended, he stayed close to the organization through coaching and scouting roles, which only deepened the bond between the player and the team. [Read more 🡒]