The words "goaltending" and "Columbus Blue Jackets" don't inspire a ton of hope around the city, and to be honest, they never have.

When Kirill Marchenko signed a new contract last summer, Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell challenged him to become a more physically engaged player, especially in the defensive zone. A month earlier, when Kent Johnson signed his new deal, Waddell pressed him to keep getting stronger and better maintain possession of the puck.

The 24-year-old forward posted career highs with 23 goals and 47 points during the 2024-25 season with Columbus