Blue Jackets Open to Moving Dmitri Voronkov After Slow Start
Pierre LeBrun reported that Columbus has received calls and is willing to listen on Dmitri Voronkov. The 26-year-old winger has two assists in six games, no goals, and was scratched twice while his ice time has fallen under Rick Bowness. Columbus is 3-5 and last in the East, adding pressure to consider roster changes.
Columbus has fielded interest in Voronkov, though LeBrun cautioned that a deal is not assured and the club is merely receptive. The 26-year-old winger has no goals and two assists through six appearances, averaging 11:44 while being scratched for consecutive games against New York and Minnesota before returning versus Toronto.
His role shrank after Rick Bowness took over last January: before the change he averaged 16:31, then logged under 11 minutes in 18 games with one goal. Columbus won 13 of 18 in that stretch compared with 19 wins in 45 earlier games. The club is 3-5 and last in the East.
For Columbus supporters and the team’s local following, a Voronkov move could reshape short-term expectations and spark debate about roster direction. It may also affect the player’s career stability and the club’s bargaining position, while opposing fan bases could see it as a signal of organizational urgency. Because the report only says the team is listening, any social or community impact remains speculative and likely modest compared with on-ice results.