The Blue Jackets got active early in free agency on Wednesday, signing UFA forward Ryan Lomberg to a two-year contract worth $2.6 million dollars. The veteran grinder will have a $1.3 million dollar AAV with the club.
Ryan Lomberg 2 x $1.3M
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) July 1, 2026
Columbus
Lomberg is one of the more well-known pests in the NHL. Most recently, he played with the Calgary Flames, accruing 137 games there in the last two seasons. In that time, he scored 7 goals and 22 points, adding 116 penalty minutes and a -9 rating.
It was his second stint in Calgary, after entering the league with the Flames back in 2017. He spent parts of two seasons there, getting into just 11 NHL games.
He is more well known as a former fourth liner for the Florida Panthers. He spent four years with the cats, establishing himself as a hard-checking player who would not back down from any challengers.
At this point in his career, the 31-year-old can probably be viewed as nothing more than a depth forward. He will be a filler on the fourth line for the Blue Jackets as needed, but I'm not sure he's going to be an every day player. Time will tell.
His underlying numbers point to a guy who can still play in the NHL, albeit with very limited minutes. I expect him to be a forechecking machine, who maybe earns some time on the penalty kill.
Ryan Lomberg, signed 2x$1.3M by CBJ, is a depth winger. pic.twitter.com/JProYrZMdb
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) July 1, 2026
We bid Boone farewell?
The deeper reaction here: this feels like the end of the road for the Blue Jackets and Boone Jenner. Adding Lomberg gives the team 11 NHL forwards under contract for next season, and that does not include pending RFAs Adam Fantilli and Cole Sillinger.
Count em up: that's 13 players for 12 jobs, with a couple of AHL players potentially pushing for jobs. Adding Lomberg tells us what we already assumed: there isn't a path forward for Jenner and the CBJ.
It's the end of an era in Columbus.
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