Columbus Blue Jackets’ 2026–27 Forward Group Features Youth, Size and Scoring Potential

Successful NHL teams require more than one productive scoring line. They need skilled finishers, dependable centers, physical forecheckers, responsible defensive forwards and enough depth to survive the injuries and scoring droughts that inevitably arrive during an 82-game season.

The Columbus Blue Jackets believe they are building that type of forward group.

Led by emerging franchise center Adam Fantilli and talented winger Kirill Marchenko, Columbus features an intriguing collection of young offensive players entering or approaching the prime of their careers. Kent Johnson, Dmitri Voronkov and Cole Sillinger provide additional upside, while Sean Monahan, Charlie Coyle and newly acquired Valeri Nichushkin give the lineup experience and versatility.

The Blue Jackets finished the 2025–26 season with a 40-30-12 record but missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs after placing fifth in the Metropolitan Division. Columbus responded by acquiring Nichushkin, signing physical winger Ryan Lomberg and retaining Sillinger on a three-year contract. However, longtime captain Boone Jenner and productive winger Mason Marchment departed in free agency, creating significant roles that must be filled.

Columbus may not possess the established star power of the NHL’s most dangerous offensive teams, but its combination of young talent, size, positional flexibility and veteran leadership gives the organization a legitimate foundation.

Projected 2026–27 Forward Lines

When the group is healthy, Columbus could open the season with the following combinations:

Valeri Nichushkin – Adam Fantilli – Kirill Marchenko

Kent Johnson – Sean Monahan – Conor Garland

Dmitri Voronkov – Charlie Coyle – Mathieu Olivier

Ryan Lomberg – Cole Sillinger – Miles Wood

These combinations remain subject to change throughout training camp, especially because injuries, contract negotiations and the development of younger players could affect the final roster.

Adam Fantilli

Age: 21 Position: Center Height: 6-foot-2 Shoots: Left

Background

Selected third overall in the 2023 NHL Draft after an outstanding season at the University of Michigan, Adam Fantilli represents the most important building block in the Blue Jackets’ forward group.

Fantilli entered the NHL with an impressive combination of size, speed, skill and competitiveness. Although injuries interrupted his rookie season, he has continued developing into a potential No. 1 center capable of playing in every situation.

Columbus is building its long-term offense around Fantilli, Marchenko and the organization’s other young forwards. His next contract remained one of the Blue Jackets’ major offseason priorities in late July.

What He Excels At

Fantilli’s game is built around power and explosiveness.

His greatest strengths include:

• Outstanding straight-line speed
• Strong puck-carrying ability
• Powerful skating stride
• Attacking the middle of the ice
• Finishing around the net
• Creating offense off the rush
• Competing for loose pucks
• Playing through physical contact
• Ability to contribute on the power play

Fantilli can pressure defenders with his speed before using his size to protect the puck and create opportunities near the net. He is also willing to shoot, drive into traffic and challenge defenders rather than remaining on the perimeter.

Areas for Improvement

The next stage of Fantilli’s development involves becoming a more consistent playmaker and defensive center.

Improving his faceoff performance, reducing unnecessary turnovers and becoming more patient when entering the offensive zone would make him a more complete player. As he gains experience, he must learn when to attack aggressively and when to slow the game down.

If those areas continue improving, Fantilli has the physical and offensive tools to become the first true franchise center in Blue Jackets history.

Kirill Marchenko

Age: 26 Position: Right Wing Height: 6-foot-3 Shoots: Right

Background

Selected in the second round of the 2018 NHL Draft, Kirill Marchenko has developed from an intriguing Russian prospect into one of Columbus’ most dangerous offensive players.

Marchenko immediately demonstrated his scoring ability after arriving in North America. He began his NHL career with consecutive 20-goal seasons before expanding his game as a passer, forechecker and two-way winger.

His continued development has made him a leading candidate to become the primary goal scorer on Fantilli’s wing.

What He Excels At

Marchenko is a natural goal scorer.

His strengths include:

• Quick and accurate wrist shot
• Dangerous one-timer
• Finding open space in scoring areas
• Power-play finishing
• Strong puck protection
• Creating offense off the rush
• Improved defensive effort
• Ability to score from different locations
• Confidence in high-pressure situations

Marchenko possesses the patience to hold the puck until a shooting lane develops. His size also allows him to protect possession and establish position around the crease.

He entered the NHL primarily known as a shooter, but his passing and defensive awareness have improved significantly.

Areas for Improvement

Marchenko must continue becoming more consistent against physical, defensively disciplined opponents.

There are games in which his offensive impact becomes limited when opponents take away his shooting space. Improving his ability to create offense below the goal line and using his size more aggressively on the forecheck would make him even more difficult to defend.

Valeri Nichushkin

Age: 31 Position: Right Wing/Left Wing Height: 6-foot-4 Shoots: Left

Background

Columbus acquired Valeri Nichushkin from the Colorado Avalanche in June 2026 in exchange for three draft selections.

The former 10th overall pick brings championship experience, size and two-way ability to a forward group that lost Jenner and Marchment during the offseason. Nichushkin won the Stanley Cup with Colorado in 2022 and has produced three 20-goal seasons during his NHL career.

He recorded 17 goals and 49 points in 72 regular-season games during 2025–26 before joining Columbus.

What He Excels At

Nichushkin is one of the most complete forwards on the roster.

His strengths include:

• Excellent size and reach
• Powerful skating
• Net-front presence
• Winning puck battles
• Defensive responsibility
• Penalty killing
• Forechecking
• Screening goaltenders
• Creating offense around the crease
• Experience in playoff situations

Nichushkin does not need to dominate possession to affect a game. His size creates problems around the net, while his defensive awareness allows coaches to use him against strong offensive opponents.

He should also create additional space for Fantilli and Marchenko if the three players remain together.

Areas for Improvement

Availability and consistency will be important.

Columbus needs Nichushkin to remain healthy and available for extended stretches. The Blue Jackets also need him to provide enough offensive production to justify a major top-six role rather than functioning primarily as a defensive complement.

At his best, however, Nichushkin gives Columbus a valuable combination of size, scoring and defensive responsibility.

Kent Johnson

Age: 23 Position: Left Wing/Right Wing Height: 6-foot Shoots: Left

Background

Selected fifth overall in the 2021 NHL Draft, Kent Johnson remains one of the most naturally creative players in the Blue Jackets organization.

Johnson enjoyed a breakout 2024–25 season but struggled to produce consistently during portions of 2025–26. His talent remains obvious, particularly when he has time and confidence with the puck.

Columbus must determine whether Johnson can become a dependable top-six scorer or whether his long-term role is better suited to moving throughout the lineup.

What He Excels At

Johnson provides offensive creativity that few Columbus forwards can match.

His strengths include:

• Elite puck handling
• Outstanding offensive imagination
• Creating plays in tight spaces
• Deception with the puck
• Strong edgework
• Passing through defensive layers
• Shootout ability
• Power-play creativity
• Protecting possession despite his size

Johnson can create something from a play that appears to have broken down. His hands and vision make him especially dangerous when skating alongside responsible veterans such as Monahan and Garland.

Areas for Improvement

Consistency remains the biggest issue.

Johnson must become more effective when opponents play physically and take away his time with the puck. He also needs to improve his defensive reliability and avoid forcing difficult passes when a simpler play is available.

The talent is undeniable. The challenge is producing it over an entire season.

Sean Monahan

Age: 31 Position: Center Height: 6-foot-2 Shoots: Left

Background

Sean Monahan joined Columbus in 2024 after previous NHL stops with Calgary, Montreal and Winnipeg.

The veteran center was added to stabilize the middle of the lineup while helping mentor Fantilli and the organization’s other young forwards. Monahan provides experience, intelligence and the ability to play with several different types of wingers.

What He Excels At

Monahan’s greatest strength is his intelligence.

He excels at:

• Reading developing plays
• Winning offensive-zone faceoffs
• Finding open teammates
• Playing around the net
• Supporting young wingers
• Power-play positioning
• Defensive-zone awareness
• Controlling the pace of a shift
• Providing veteran leadership

Monahan does not rely entirely on speed. He creates offense by anticipating where the puck will move and positioning himself accordingly.

His calm style could make him an ideal center for the more creative Johnson and the aggressive Garland.

Areas for Improvement

Durability remains an important concern because injuries have affected several seasons during Monahan’s career.

Columbus must also manage his workload carefully. He remains capable of handling important offensive and defensive responsibilities, but asking him to carry the top line for extended periods could reduce his effectiveness later in the season.

Conor Garland

Age: 30 Position: Right Wing/Left Wing Height: 5-foot-10 Shoots: Right

Background

The Blue Jackets acquired Conor Garland from Vancouver near the 2026 trade deadline.

Despite being one of the smaller players on the roster, Garland immediately added competitiveness, puck possession and offensive energy. Columbus views him as a long-term part of its core after inheriting the six-year extension he signed with Vancouver.

What He Excels At

Garland plays much larger than his measurements.

His strengths include:

• Relentless competitiveness
• Excellent edgework
• Puck protection
• Creating plays in tight spaces
• Forechecking pressure
• Drawing penalties
• Extending offensive-zone possessions
• Versatility throughout the lineup
• Making linemates more effective

Garland uses his low center of gravity to get underneath larger defenders. He rarely gives up on a puck battle and can create scoring chances through effort even when a structured play breaks down.

Areas for Improvement

Garland must avoid allowing his aggressive style to result in unnecessary penalties or turnovers.

His effectiveness can also decline when he tries to create too much by himself. Playing within the structure of the offense and moving the puck quickly will help him remain productive without sacrificing the intensity that makes him valuable.

Dmitri Voronkov

Age: 25 Position: Center/Left Wing Height: 6-foot-5 Shoots: Left

Background

A fourth-round selection in the 2019 NHL Draft, Dmitri Voronkov has developed into one of Columbus’ most interesting power forwards.

Voronkov combines imposing size with better hands and offensive instincts than many players of his build. After surpassing 20 goals during the 2024–25 season, he established himself as more than a traditional physical bottom-six forward.

What He Excels At

Voronkov gives Columbus a powerful presence.

His strengths include:

• Exceptional size
• Net-front scoring
• Puck protection
• Winning battles along the boards
• Screening goaltenders
• Finishing rebounds
• Heavy forechecking
• Soft hands around the crease
• Creating space for linemates

When Voronkov plays aggressively, he can be extremely difficult for smaller defensemen to contain.

Areas for Improvement

Consistency and conditioning remain important.

Voronkov must stay involved when he is not scoring. He can become less noticeable when he is not using his size or driving toward the net.

Improving his defensive details and maintaining his pace throughout longer shifts would help him earn more consistent top-nine minutes.

Charlie Coyle

Age: 34 Position: Center/Right Wing Height: 6-foot-3 Shoots: Right

Background

Charlie Coyle provides Columbus with another experienced, versatile forward capable of playing center or wing.

The former Boston Bruins forward delivered stretches of strong production during the 2025–26 season and can be used in offensive, defensive and special-teams situations. His presence gives Columbus valuable flexibility when injuries force the coaching staff to rearrange its lines.

What He Excels At

Coyle’s game is built around versatility.

His strengths include:

• Playing center or wing
• Protecting the puck
• Responsible defensive positioning
• Faceoff ability
• Penalty killing
• Net-front offense
• Supporting linemates
• Playing against difficult matchups
• Veteran leadership

He is particularly effective when using his size along the boards and below the goal line.

Areas for Improvement

Coyle’s age makes workload management important.

Columbus should avoid relying on him to generate top-line offense for extended periods. His greatest value comes from strengthening the middle six, handling difficult assignments and contributing secondary scoring.

Cole Sillinger

Age: 23 Position: Center/Left Wing Height: 6-foot-2 Shoots: Left

Background

Selected 12th overall in the 2021 NHL Draft, Cole Sillinger entered the NHL as an 18-year-old and has already accumulated significant professional experience.

Columbus signed him to a three-year contract in July 2026 after he recorded eight goals, 25 assists and 33 points in 81 games during the previous season.

Sillinger has not developed into an elite scorer, but his defensive awareness and versatility make him an important part of the lineup.

What He Excels At

Sillinger has developed into a reliable two-way forward.

His strengths include:

• Defensive positioning
• Competing for loose pucks
• Playing center or wing
• Penalty killing
• Supporting defensemen
• Strong shot
• Physical maturity
• Responsible decision-making
• Ability to handle difficult assignments

He can move throughout the lineup without dramatically changing his approach.

Areas for Improvement

Sillinger needs to rediscover his scoring touch.

He possesses a good shot but does not consistently create enough opportunities to use it. Becoming more aggressive entering the offensive zone and getting into shooting position more frequently could raise his production.

The difference between Sillinger becoming a dependable third-line player and a legitimate top-six forward will be his ability to generate offense consistently.

Mathieu Olivier

Age: 29 Position: Right Wing/Left Wing Height: 6-foot-1 Shoots: Right

Background

Mathieu Olivier has become one of the NHL’s most respected physical forwards.

Originally undrafted, Olivier worked his way into the league through Nashville before establishing himself in Columbus. His work ethic, leadership and willingness to defend teammates earned him a six-year contract extension through the 2030–31 season.

What He Excels At

Olivier provides qualities that are becoming increasingly difficult to find.

His strengths include:

• Physical play
• Forechecking
• Fighting when necessary
• Protecting teammates
• Net-front presence
• Finishing checks
• Creating energy
• Leadership
• Improving goal-scoring ability

Olivier gives the Blue Jackets a physical identity and helps prevent opponents from taking liberties with younger players.

Areas for Improvement

Olivier must remain disciplined.

His physicality is most valuable when it does not result in unnecessary penalties. Continuing to improve his puck skills and finishing ability would also allow the coaching staff to use him in more offensive situations.

Miles Wood

Age: 30 Position: Left Wing Height: 6-foot-2 Shoots: Left

Background

Miles Wood brings speed, physicality and NHL experience to the bottom half of the lineup.

After spending most of his early career with New Jersey and later playing for Colorado, Wood joined Columbus to provide forechecking pressure and energy.

What He Excels At

Wood’s greatest weapon is his speed.

His strengths include:

• Straight-line acceleration
• Forechecking
• Physical play
• Driving defenders backward
• Drawing attention on the rush
• Penalty killing
• Creating energy
• Willingness to attack the net

Wood can change the momentum of a game with one aggressive shift.

Areas for Improvement

Discipline and finishing have been inconsistent throughout his career.

Wood’s speed creates opportunities, but he does not always convert those chances. Avoiding offensive-zone penalties and making better decisions after gaining possession would increase his overall value.

Ryan Lomberg

Age: 31 Position: Left Wing Height: 5-foot-9 Shoots: Left

Background

Columbus signed Ryan Lomberg to a two-year contract in July 2026.

The veteran winger won the Stanley Cup with Florida in 2024 and recorded 129 hits in 57 games with Calgary during the 2025–26 season. He was added to provide energy, experience and physical pressure following several offseason departures.

What He Excels At

Lomberg brings immediate intensity.

His strengths include:

• Relentless forechecking
• Physical play
• Creating energy
• Agitating opponents
• Team toughness
• Playoff experience
• Willingness to block shots
• Competing for every loose puck

He can help establish the emotional tone of a game even without producing points.

Areas for Improvement

Lomberg offers limited offensive production.

He must avoid unnecessary penalties and remain defensively dependable to justify a regular fourth-line role. His effectiveness will be measured more through energy, physical pressure and team defense than through scoring totals.

Forward Depth

Luca Del Bel Belluz

Luca Del Bel Belluz could receive an extended NHL opportunity during the 2026–27 season. The 22-year-old produced 58 points in 55 AHL games during 2025–26 but recorded only one assist in 14 NHL appearances.

His offensive instincts, passing and ability to play center make him one of the organization’s most NHL-ready forward prospects.

Isac Lundeström

Isac Lundeström provides defensive responsibility, penalty-killing ability and experience at center. An Achilles injury could affect his availability entering the season, but he remains a useful bottom-six option when healthy.

Danton Heinen

Danton Heinen returned to the organization on a one-year, two-way contract. His ability to play multiple forward positions gives Columbus another experienced option if injuries strike.

Luca Pinelli

Luca Pinelli recorded 46 points in 68 games for Cleveland during the 2025–26 season and appeared in three NHL games. His speed, creativity and competitive style could help him challenge for additional NHL playing time.

How Does Columbus Compare to the Rest of the NHL?

The NHL’s best forward groups—such as those assembled by Carolina, Dallas, Colorado and Edmonton—feature established superstars supported by several proven scoring lines.

Columbus has not yet reached that level.

The Blue Jackets are relying heavily on Fantilli, Marchenko, Johnson, Voronkov and Sillinger to continue developing. Nichushkin, Monahan, Garland and Coyle provide experience, but the organization still lacks a proven elite scorer who can consistently carry the offense during difficult stretches.

NHL.com identified another top-six forward as a possible remaining need even after the Nichushkin trade.

Strengths

• Potential franchise center in Fantilli
• Proven goal scorer in Marchenko
• Excellent size throughout the lineup
• Strong center depth
• Multiple players capable of playing different positions
• Physicality from Olivier, Wood, Lomberg and Voronkov
• Championship experience from Nichushkin and Lomberg
• Offensive creativity from Johnson and Garland
• Young players with room to improve
• Several responsible two-way forwards

Weaknesses

• Limited proven elite offensive production
• Heavy reliance on young players
• Injury concerns involving several veterans
• Uncertainty surrounding Fantilli’s next contract
• Loss of Jenner’s leadership and Marchment’s scoring
• Inconsistent production from Johnson and Sillinger
• Lack of playoff experience among the young core
• Fourth line may offer limited scoring

Entering the 2026–27 season, Columbus’ forward group belongs somewhere in the middle of the NHL.

Its ceiling is considerably higher.

If Fantilli develops into a legitimate No. 1 center, Marchenko becomes a consistent 30-goal threat and Johnson or Voronkov produces a breakout season, the Blue Jackets could quickly possess one of the Eastern Conference’s deeper attacks.

If the young players struggle with consistency or the veteran group experiences significant injuries, Columbus could once again have difficulty producing enough offense to secure a playoff position.

Final Thoughts

The Columbus Blue Jackets are no longer searching for talented young forwards. Those players are already in the organization.

The challenge is turning potential into consistent NHL production.

Fantilli has the tools to become the center of the franchise. Marchenko is developing into a dangerous goal scorer. Johnson provides creativity, Voronkov supplies size and net-front offense, and Sillinger offers dependable two-way play.

Nichushkin, Monahan, Garland and Coyle give the group experience, while Olivier, Wood and Lomberg provide the physical edge required to compete against heavier Metropolitan Division opponents.

There are still questions.

Columbus must replace Jenner’s leadership, overcome the loss of Marchment’s scoring and determine whether its young forwards are ready to carry the offense over an entire season. The organization could also benefit from adding another proven top-six scorer.

However, the foundation is promising.

If Fantilli, Marchenko and the young core continue developing while the veterans remain healthy, the Blue Jackets’ forward group could become one of the primary reasons Columbus returns to the Stanley Cup Playoffs and begins challenging the Metropolitan Division’s established contenders.