While it's not the news we were anticipating on Wednesday afternoon, the Union Blue faithful got some welcome news for organizational depth. The Columbus Blue Jackets announced just after 5 PM that they had re-signed forward Danton Heinen to a one-year, two-way contract for the 2026-2027 season.
Danton slashed a 5-5-10 line in 33 games played for the Jackets during the 2025-2026 campaign, while posting a solid +6 rating and just 8 penalty minutes. Heinen also played one game for the club's AHL affiliate Cleveland Monsters before being called up to the big league level for the remainder of the campaign.
Heinen was acquired in the Egor Chinakhov trade that sent Egor to Pittsburgh in exchange for Heinen and two draft picks. He joined the Blue Jackets on December 29th.
While this isn't the Jet Greaves, Cole Sillinger or Adam Fantilli extension fans were hoping for right this second, it's a nontheless welcome signing for a team that still needed to shore up their veteran forward depth after the departures of names like Boone Jenner & Mason Marchment, and the possibly long-term injury to Isac Lundestrom considered.
Heinen is a two way forward that is best left in a bottom line role or as an extra forward, but added some scoring pop in key situations down the stretch for the Jackets last year, and was actually a great commodity to have on the roster.
Heinen, 31, brings ten seasons of NHL experience and almost 50 games of Stanley Cup Playoffs experience during previous stints as a journeyman with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Vancouver Canucks, Boston Bruins and Anaheim Ducks prior to his acquisition by Columbus.
Heinen’s back for more! ⁰⁰We’ve signed F Danton Heinen to a one-year, two-way contract!⁰⁰📝 https://t.co/YJr5UTAIBK⁰⁰CBJ x @OHHeartofitAll pic.twitter.com/mYu1TRGVqk
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) July 22, 2026
Don Waddell had this to say when asked about the signing, per BlueJackets.com:
"Danton is a competitive and versatile two-way forward who earned increased responsibility after joining our club in a trade last season. He provides valuable NHL experience and depth to the organization, and we are pleased he will remain a Blue Jacket for the upcoming season."CBJ POHO and GM Don Waddell
There's a good case to be made that Heinen may spend the entire year at the NHL level in which his two-way contract may not matter, as he did for most of his time after being acquired in December. But, if he does get waived and sent down to the AHL level, his two way clause means his cap hit will not count against the Blue Jacket's salary cap if sent down.
Heinen should be a welcome addition back to the locker room and to the organization's depth. Welcome back, Danton!
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