Zach Aston-Reese (ZAR) was claimed off of waivers prior to the beginning of the 2024-25 season from the Vegas Golden Knights. The team was in desperate need of depth at the forward position and ZAR was one of the few players available.
In the moment, not much was thought of the move. As it turned out, the pickup was solid for the team. ZAR finished the season with 6 goals, 11 assists, and 17 total points in 79 games played. While those aren’t amazing numbers, they were more than expected from the 4th line player. His play was so good that he earned a 1-year contract extension with the Blue Jackets in the middle of the season.
For the 2025-2026 season, ZAR will likely be on the 4th line, or a healthy scratch as one of the extra forwards. The Blue Jackets have more forward depth this season with the additions of Charlie Coyle, Miles Wood, and Isac Lundestrom. Those players, along with young players in Cleveland pushing for playing time, will make it difficult for ZAR to move up any higher on the depth chart.
ZAR signed a 1-year extension worth $775k per season. He will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2025-2026 season. Unless he has a career year, it is likely that this season will be his last with the CBJ. The Blue Jackets have a lot of young talent coming through the pipeline. That, added to the increased depth at forward, makes the likelihood of ZAR donning the union blue past this season very slim.
One bold prediction: ZAR will be lost to waivers this season.
Aston-Reese was a solid 4th line player for the CBJ last season. However, this season, he projects to be the 13th or 14th forward on the team. If any young player (possibly Luca Del Bel Belluz) makes the team, that would slide ZAR even further down the depth chart.
If he slides any further down, the team may be forced to send him to Cleveland via waivers. He would be a prime claim candidate for any team looking to bolster their bottom six. I hope that he is not lost to waivers, but I don’t think it is out of the realm of possibility.
Zach will bounce between the press box (as a healthy scratch) and the 4th line for most of the team. Unless injuries occur, his ceiling won’t be any higher than that. He will be a good depth player for the forward group and should provide adequate forechecking.