That shared goal of winning the Stanley Cup will be bolstered by two forwards who have recently hoisted it.<\/p>\n
Valeri Nichushkin<\/a>, who had 49 points (17 goals, 32 assists) in 72 games last season, was acquired in a trade from the Colorado Avalanche on June 25. He won the Stanley Cup with Colorado in 2022.<\/p>\n Ryan Lomberg<\/a> signed a two-year, $2.6 million contract ($1.3 million AAV) on July 1 after having nine points (four goals, five assists) in 57 games for the Calgary Flames. In 2024, he helped the Florida Panthers win the first of back-to-back championships.<\/p>\n “I’ve said that once you’ve won the Cup, and I was fortunate in management (to win it), once you’ve won it, there’s nothing like it,” Waddell said. “These players that we’ve targeted, went after, just happen to have won Cups. So, it’s an added bonus to what they bring to the locker room.”<\/p>\n Still, wholesale change isn’t what the Blue Jackets are chasing.<\/p>\n Goalie Jet Greaves<\/a>\u00a0signed a three-year, $15 million contract on July 23 ($5 million AAV) to avoid a salary arbitration hearing after going 26-19-9 with a 2.60 goals-against average and .908 save percentage. Forward Cole Sillinger<\/a>, who had 33 points (eight goals, 25 assists) in 81 games last season, avoided arbitration by signing a three-year, $13.875 million contract ($4.625 million AAV) on July 25.<\/p>\n