Blue Jackets Ride Momentum Into Olympic Break, Face Big Decisions Ahead
The NHL may be on pause for the Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, but there’s no break in the buzz surrounding the Columbus Blue Jackets. With no games on the schedule until February 25, the spotlight shifts from the team’s recent surge to their representatives on the world stage-and the unexpected playoff hunt they’ve skated into.
The “Bowness Bump” Is Real
Let’s start with the obvious: Columbus is rolling. Under interim head coach Rick Bowness, the Blue Jackets have flipped the script in a big way. Heading into the Olympic break, they’re riding a seven-game win streak and have gone 11-1-0 in their last 12-a stretch capped by a shutout win over the Blackhawks on February 4.
That kind of heater doesn’t just boost morale-it changes everything. A team that looked destined to be sellers at the trade deadline is suddenly in the thick of the Metropolitan Division playoff race.
The timing of the Olympic pause is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it halts their momentum.
On the other, it gives the team a much-needed breather before the final sprint toward the postseason.
Deadline Decisions: Stay the Course or Make a Move?
This surge has thrown a wrench into the front office’s plans. A few weeks ago, Columbus looked like a classic deadline seller-ready to move pending free agents and build for the future.
Now? Things aren’t so simple.
Veteran centers Charlie Coyle and Boone Jenner had been floating through the trade rumor mill, but with the Jackets winning and the locker room clearly buying in, dealing away key contributors would be a tough pill to swallow. There’s a real case to be made for standing pat-or even adding-to reward this group’s effort and keep the momentum alive.
It’s a classic hockey conundrum: do you stick to the long-term plan, or do you lean into the moment and give the team a shot at something special?
Werenski’s Career Year
Zach Werenski isn’t just anchoring the blue line-he’s rewriting it. The 26-year-old defenseman is in the middle of the best season of his career, and he’s making history in the process.
Just before the break, Werenski became the first defenseman in the NHL this season to hit the 20-goal mark. That’s elite production from the back end, and it’s come at a time when the team needed it most.
His offensive instincts, skating, and ability to jump into the rush have been on full display, and he’s playing with the kind of confidence that turns good players into game-changers. Werenski’s performance isn’t just helping Columbus win-it’s putting him squarely in the conversation for postseason hardware.
Olympic Spotlight: Werenski vs. Merzļikins
While the NHL hits pause, a few Blue Jackets will be anything but idle. All eyes turn to February 12, when Team USA takes on Team Latvia in a matchup that turns teammates into opponents. Werenski will be suiting up for the U.S., while goaltender Elvis Merzļikins backstops Latvia.
It’s the kind of head-to-head that makes Olympic hockey so compelling-high stakes, national pride, and a little friendly fire between teammates. Werenski will be looking to solve a goalie he knows all too well, and Merzļikins will be trying to shut down one of the league’s hottest blueliners.
Here’s a look at the Blue Jackets’ Olympic schedule this week:
Blue Jackets Olympic Schedule
- Thursday, Feb. 12 | 3:10 PM ET 🇺🇸 USA vs. 🇱🇻 Latvia Zach Werenski (USA) vs. Elvis Merzļikins (LAT)
- Saturday, Feb. 14 | 6:10 AM ET 🇩🇪 Germany vs. 🇱🇻 Latvia Elvis Merzļikins (LAT)
- Saturday, Feb. 14 | 3:10 PM ET 🇺🇸 USA vs. 🇩🇰 Denmark Zach Werenski (USA)
- Sunday, Feb. 15 | 1:10 PM ET 🇩🇰 Denmark vs. 🇱🇻 Latvia Elvis Merzļikins (LAT)
- Sunday, Feb. 15 | 3:10 PM ET 🇺🇸 USA vs. 🇩🇪 Germany Zach Werenski (USA)
What’s Next?
When the NHL returns from the Olympic break, the Blue Jackets will be facing a stretch that could define their season-and maybe even reshape their future. The decisions made at the trade deadline will speak volumes about how much belief the front office has in this group.
But one thing’s already clear: this team isn’t folding. Not under Rick Bowness.
Not with Werenski playing at an all-world level. And not with a locker room that’s found its swagger at just the right time.
For now, the Blue Jackets take center stage in Milan-Cortina. But come February 25, the real show resumes-and Columbus is suddenly a team worth watching.