The NHL’s move to an 84-game season in 2026-27 means the Blue Jackets will play only four preseason games.
They’ll be split evenly between Nationwide Arena and two road games, including one home and one road game against the Detroit Red Wings plus a home game against the Pittsburgh Penguins and road matchup at the Buffalo Sabres.
The games will be played Sept. 21-26, starting with a back-to-back Sept. 21 against Detroit at Nationwide Arena and Sept. 22 in Buffalo. The Penguins visit Columbus on Sept. 24 before the Blue Jackets close out the preseason Sept. 26 in Detroit.
All four games will start at 7 p.m., leading into the start of a regular-season schedule that has yet to be released.
Columbus Blue Jackets shift to Detroit for prospects tournament
After competing in Buffalo the past two years, the Blue Jackets will return to Michigan for their annual pre-training camp prospects tournament. The Red Wings will host, but Detroit’s tournament is now held at Belfor Training Center inside Little Caesars Arena rather than at Centre ice Arena in Traverse City, Michigan.
The tournament runs Sept. 12-15, and the Blue Jackets will compete against prospects from the Red Wings, Dallas Stars and Pittsburgh Penguins.
Dispatch Blue Jackets reporter Brian Hedger can be reached at bhedger@dispatch.com and @BrianHedger.bsky.social
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Blue Jackets unveil preseason slate, shift for prospects tournament
Reporting by Brian Hedger, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
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By Brian Hedger, Columbus Dispatch | USA TODAY Network
