The coaching change turned their season around, right up until the games got tough.
After Bowness came aboard, the team turned things around quickly. Right away, the Blue Jackets started playing up to their full potential, winning 10 of 11 games before the Olympic break.
They were back in the playoff hunt, and we were optimistic that this team was finally starting to find its way. Unfortunately, the pundits were correct: this was the old fashion "new head coach boost" in effect.
Post-Olympics, this team again started sputtering, before collapsing completely in the final stretch. After taking over second place in the Metropolitan Division on March 24th, the Jackets won just twice in their final 11 games.
The end result: instead of being closer to the playoffs this year, they missed by even more points than they did last year. Their record was almost identical to last season (40-30-12, 92 points), but nearly every other team in the conference stepped up their game and out-paced them.
While the bar may have been set too low, the fact remains: this was not good enough. And, this time, we can't blame the rebuild. We can't blame injuries (they fared pretty well in the injury department). We can't blame the head coach, or any outside forces. This year, it was the players who did not get the job done.
Over the next few weeks, we will review every single player from the team on an individual basis. But, overall, the team gets a pretty low grade from us this year. The main reason: it feels like they could have been so much better.
This team was constructed to not only make the playoffs; they were constructed to make a little noise in those playoffs. The Jackets were deep down the middle. They found their #1 goaltender. They had guys returning who could score (though, some of them did not hold up their end of the bargain).
In all, this was a wasted season, one that won't even result in a high draft pick. While it's easy to blame the roster construction or some other outside interference, the fact of the matter is the players dropped the ball.
2025-26 Blue Jackets team player grade: C-.
There were some standouts this year. Obviously, Zach Werenski will be up for the Norris Trophy again. Kirill Marchenko was strong for about 2/3 of the year. Adam Fantilli bounced back nicely in the second half. Charlie Coyle was a revelation-as was Cole Sillinger, to some extent.
But, without going down the list of every single player: this was not good enough. As a whole, this team played down to their opponents too often, and sat back playing reactive hockey too many times. That's why they aren't preparing for a first round playoff series right now.
It's disappointing, but it's not the end of the world. It feels like this team is finally being managed from a perspective of doing whatever it takes to win. For that reason, don't be surprised if their are some big roster changes this summer. After all, as good as a group is: you can't keep them together if they don't win together. Whatever changes come, is on the players.
Add us as a preferred source on Google