Blue Jackets Rumors: Columbus Searching Trade Market For One Specific Position

The Columbus Blue Jackets are looking to add goaltending depth, with GM Don Waddell confirming to The Athletic’s Aaron Portzline that he’s “got a lot of irons in the fire.”

Blue Jackets Hunting for Goalie Help Ahead of Camp

Waddell is targeting a No. 3 goalie, someone with AHL experience who could step into NHL action if needed. If he can’t strike a deal, he’s prepared to wait for the waiver wire once training camps begin, even if it means carrying three goalies on the NHL roster to start the season.

Jet Greaves completed his fourth year in Cleveland in the 2024-25 season leaving his name on the top of multiple goaltending leaderboards in Monsters history ✈️ including games played (158), minutes played (9,029), saves (4,307), and wins (82) 📈

Jet also played a career-high… pic.twitter.com/RKev5fTjou

— Cleveland Monsters (@monstershockey) June 16, 2025

As it stands, Elvis Merzļikins and Jet Greaves will likely be the Jackets’ 1-2 tandem, but things fall off quickly behind them. Zach Sawchenko is penciled in for AHL Cleveland, but he’s seen as more of a depth option. 

Nolan Lalonde, while promising, is still raw and expected to split time between the AHL and ECHL. That’s why Waddell has been working the phones for a young, waivers-exempt goalie, a valuable and rare commodity that rival GMs aren’t eager to part with.

No surprise, but #CBJ first-round draft pick — Pyotr Andreyanov, selected No. 20 overall last month — has signed a new five-year agreement with CSKA of the KHL, keeping him under contract through 2029-30. pic.twitter.com/w4SjJvb1Fq

— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) July 10, 2025

Waddell has options if nothing materializes via trade. Several recognizable names, including Laurent Brossoit, Pheonix Copley, Cal Petersen, and Ville Husso, are expected to hit waivers this fall. But with Columbus sitting 13th in waiver priority, the team would risk losing any claimed goalie if they try to send them down. 

Still, the Blue Jackets don’t want to leave AHL Cleveland short-staffed, and they'll likely get something done before the start of the season.

Photo Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images