Outside of a pending trade request from winger Yegor Chinakhov, the Columbus Blue Jackets have already completed most of their heavy lifting this offseason. Still, on the fringes of their summer to-do list, restricted free agents Mikael Pyyhtia and Daemon Hunt are without contracts for the upcoming season.
According to Aaron Portzline of The Athletic, there is zero concern from the organization that deals won’t get completed with either player. Neither Pyyhtia nor Hunt has arbitration rights, so there’s no real fear of leaving them unsigned through August.
Furthermore, there’s little chance either player will be a huge factor for the Blue Jackets next season, anyway. Pyyhtia underwent a lengthy 47-game tryout with the team last season, but spent the second half of the year in the AHL after recording only four goals and seven points. Meanwhile, Hunt’s only game last season came with the Minnesota Wild before being moved in the David Jiříček trade.
Other notes from the Metro Division:
- Staying in Columbus, the fourth-overall pick of the 2024 NHL Draft, Cayden Lindstrom, expressed his appreciation for the organization last season despite not registering a game. In an interview with Craig Merz of NHL.com, Lindstrom spoke about staying in Columbus around the team after his back surgery last season, saying, “I took so much and learned so much from all the older guys and they gave me so many pointers and cues that I’ll remember forever.” Lindstrom will play for the NCAA’s Michigan State University Spartans next season.
- Moving east in the Metro Division, New York Islanders youngster Calum Ritchie is hoping to make the team’s opening night roster out of training camp. In a recent interview with Stefen Rosner of The Hockey News, Ritchie said, “I’m going to come in here and work as hard as I can to show them what I’ve got.” Ritchie was one of the main pieces acquired by the Islanders last offseason from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for center Brock Nelson. The 27th overall pick of the 2023 NHL Draft scored 15 goals and 70 points in 47 games for the OHL’s Oshawa Generals last season.
Columbus WILL make the playoffs this season.