Key departures
Sean KuralyF: Signed a two-year contract with the Boston Bruins on July 1 after four seasons with the Blue Jackets. He had 17 points (six goals, 11 assists) in 82 games last season. … James van RiemsdykF: Signed a one-year contract with the Detroit Red Wings on July 1 after recording 36 points (16 goals, 20 assists) in 71 games last season. … Daniel Tarasov G: Traded to the Florida Panthers on June 26 for a fifth-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, he was 7-10-2 in 20 games (19 starts) with a 3.54 goals-against average and .881 save percentage last season. … Justin DanforthF: The 32-year-old signed a two-year contract with the Buffalo Sabers on July 2. He collected 21 points (nine goals, 12 assists) in 61 games last season playing on the third or fourth line. … Jordan HarrisD: Signed a one-year contract with the Bruins on July 1. He recorded five points (one goal, four assists) in 33 games last season. … Jack JohnsonD: An unrestricted free agent, he had six assists in 41 games last season.
At dawn
Mikael PyyhtiaF: The 23-year-old, who is a restricted free agent, has 10 points (four goals, six assists) in 66 games with the Blue Jackets since his NHL debut in April 2023. Columbus’ fourth-round pick in the 2020 NHL Draft (114th), he had seven points (four goals, three assists) in 47 games with the Blue Jackets last season and became a reliable bottom-six player. … Luca Del Bel BelluzF: The 21-year-old forward will be one of Cleveland’s first call-ups if, as expected, he doesn’t make the NHL roster. Selected in the second round of the 2022 NHL Draft (44th overall), he had eight points (two goals, six assists) in 15 games with the Blue Jackets last season and 53 points (27 goals, 26 assists) in 61 games with Cleveland.
