NHL free agency may have slowed down now that July 1 has passed, but there are still a good number of unrestricted free agents (UFAs) who have not signed with teams. A decent number of them are former Columbus Blue Jackets players, as Patrik Laine, Nick Blankenburg, James van Riemsdyk, and Danton Heinen have all not landed new deals yet.
Laine spent four seasons with the Blue Jackets from 2020-21 to 2023-24 before being dealt to the Montreal Canadiens following his trade request. The skilled winger spent most of his time with the Canadiens injured and played in just five games last season for Montreal.
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Blankenburg spent his first three NHL seasons with the Blue Jackets from 2021-22 to 2023-24. He recorded new career highs with eight goals, 16 assists, and 24 points in 61 games last season split between the Nashville Predators and Colorado Avalanche. With this, the former Blue Jackets blueliner should eventually find a new home.
van Riemsdyk spent the 2024-25 season with the Blue Jackets, where he recorded 16 goals and 36 points in 71 games. He followed that up this past season by posting 15 goals and 31 points in 72 games with the Detroit Red Wings. The potential for him to land a one-year deal or PTO with another NHL team is there. That is assuming that the 37-year-old does not retire.
As for Heinen, he finished this past season with the Blue Jackets after they acquired him from the Pittsburgh Penguins as part of the Egor Chinakhov trade. In 33 games with Columbus following the move, the 10-year veteran posted five goals and five assists.
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