The Columbus Blue Jackets are making some notable roster moves ahead of their next game, placing veteran forwards Zach Aston-Reese and Brendan Gaunce on waivers. The decision clears the way for a pair of returns: defenseman Denton Mateychuk is expected to come off injured reserve, and forward Miles Wood is also set to rejoin the lineup.
Let’s start with Aston-Reese. At 31 years old and in his ninth NHL season, he’s seen a bit of everything.
He made his name in Pittsburgh as one of the league’s more reliable low-usage defensive forwards, but the last few seasons have been a winding road. Since 2022, he’s bounced from Anaheim to Toronto to Detroit, and now Columbus, trying to find his footing.
Last season, he managed to carve out a regular role with the Jackets, appearing in 76 games and earning a one-year extension at the league minimum. But this year, it’s been a different story.
He’s suited up for just 26 games, finding himself a healthy scratch in six of the last eight. His offensive production has dipped - just one goal and five points - and his shot volume has hit a career low, averaging only 0.65 shots per game (excluding a brief stint in Detroit).
While he’s still throwing hits and getting in front of pucks, his ice time has dropped below 10 minutes a night, and he’s lost some of his penalty-kill responsibilities to offseason addition Isac Lundeström. Right now, he’s essentially been relegated to a 13th forward role.
Brendan Gaunce, also 31, has had a similar usage pattern despite starting the season in the AHL. After clearing waivers out of training camp, he was called up in November and has played 25 games for Columbus.
He’s chipped in two goals and six points - modest numbers, but he’s been excellent in the faceoff circle, winning nearly 57% of his draws, the best mark on the team. Still, with Lundeström back in the fold after missing time, Gaunce has been a healthy scratch for the past two games.
With both veterans waived, Danton Heinen is currently holding down the 13th forward spot. Acquired from Pittsburgh in the Egor Chinakhov trade last month, Heinen has appeared in 11 games for the Jackets, tallying two points, a -1 rating, and 21 hits. He’s brought some energy in a depth role and, for now, has earned the trust to stick around while the roster reshuffles.
Meanwhile, Miles Wood is set to make his return after missing time with a leg injury suffered on New Year’s Eve. It’s been a stop-and-start season for the 30-year-old winger, who’s missed 19 of Columbus’ 51 games due to various ailments.
But when he’s been in the lineup, he’s made an impact. With eight goals and 12 points in 32 games, he’s already doubled his goal total from last season, despite playing a similar number of games with the Avalanche.
The Jackets brought him and Charlie Coyle over from Colorado in a trade, and the returns are looking solid - Coyle has notched 33 points in 51 games, giving Columbus some much-needed veteran production down the middle.
As the Jackets get healthier, tough decisions like these are inevitable. Waiving Aston-Reese and Gaunce may not be headline-grabbing moves, but they reflect a team trying to fine-tune its depth and keep pace in a competitive Eastern Conference. With Mateychuk and Wood back in the mix, Columbus is hoping that a more complete roster can help them find consistency in the second half of the season.