The Columbus Blue Jackets are ready to go for their first game of the 2025 calendar year with a home gaming preparing the excitement for the March 1 Stadium Series against the Detroit Red Wings.
This will be the fourth game of the Todd McLellan era in Detroit after Derek Lalonde was let go by the Wings on the 26th of December. All summer, McLellan was heavily discussed for the seat that Dean Evason sits in with the Blue Jackets, but money and winning position deterred McLellan from inking a deal with Columbus.
Publicly, there have been calls for Detroit to make progress for the playoffs, and general manager Steve Yzerman has continued to turn the roster over and find his club on the outside of the playoff picture.
Out
D Jake Walman was traded with a second round pick to San Jose for future considerations.
G James Reimer signed with Buffalo.
RW Zach Aston-Reese signed a one year deal with Vegas; since has been claimed off waivers by Columbus.
D Shayne Gostisbehere re-joined the Carolina Hurricanes.
LW David Perron signed on with the Ottawa Senators.
LW Robby Fabbri was traded to the Anaheim Ducks in a cup dump with a fourth round pick.
RW Daniel Sprong signed a one year deal with Vancouver; has since been traded to the Seattle Kraken for future considerations.
In
RW Vladimir Tarasenko and LW Tyler Motte reunites with Patrick Kane.
Goalies Cam Talbot and Jack Campbell join a logjam in the Detroit crease.
D Erik Gustafsson signed on a short term deal to also reunite with Kane.
Pregame
This is the only matchup the Jackets and Red Wings will have at Nationwide Arena a due to the mentioned outdoor game.
Tyler Motte, the former Blue Jackets’ winger, is the odd man out, and joins the list of former Wolverines between the two teams with Larkin; Copp; Compher; Werenski; Jack Johnson; Kent Johnson; and Fantilli (Brindley is in the minors).
Expect Talbot and Merzlikins as the starters for the first home game of the new year and the same lineups for the Jackets that helped them win on New Year’s Eve.
Projected Lineups
Detroit Red Wings
Joe Veleno -- Dylan Larkin -- Lucas Raymond Alex DeBrincat -- Andrew Copp -- Patrick Kane Jonatan Berggren -- J.T. Compher -- Vladimir Tarasenko Michael Rasmussen -- Marco Kasper -- Christian Fischer
Ben Chiarot -- Moritz Seider Simon Edvinsson -- Jeff Petry Erik Gustafsson -- Justin Holl
Cam Talbot Alex Lyon
Scratched: Tyler Motte, Albert Johansson
Injured: None
Columbus Blue Jackets
Dmitri Voronkov -- Sean Monahan -- Kirill Marchenko James van Riemsdyk -- Adam Fantilli -- Zach Aston-Reese Kent Johnson -- Cole Sillinger -- Mathieu Olivier Mikael Pyyhtia -- Sean Kuraly
Zach Werenski -- Dante Fabbro Denton Mateychuk -- Ivan Provorov Jake Christiansen -- Damon Severson Jack Johnson
Elvis Merzlikins Daniil Tarasov
Scratched: Jordan Harris, Kevin Labanc Injured: Yegor Chinakhov (upper body), Justin Danforth (lower body)
Players to Watch
Detroit — Lucas Raymond — leads the team with 38 points on first year of contract extension; tied with Kane with 3 GWG for first.
Columbus — Zach Werenski — 40 points with 8 helpers in last 4 games. Former Wolverine against a team from Michigan just adds the fun to this contest.
Predicted Final Score
DET — 3
CBJ — 4