Jet Greaves seeks $7.5 million. Will the Columbus Blue Jackets blink?
Jet Greaves is a restricted free agent (RFA) without an active contract, as his previous two-year, $1.625 million deal expired at the end of the 2025-26 season. The Columbus Blue Jackets and Greaves are scheduled for a salary arbitration hearing in Toronto to determine his contract.
The two sides filed significantly different figures in their briefs: the Blue Jackets filed for a $2.8 million salary, while Greaves' camp requested $7.5 million. Columbus selected a one-year term for the contract ruling. If the two sides do not negotiate a settlement prior to the hearing, the arbitrator will rule on the player's salary.
Time is ticking for the Blue Jackets and Jet Greaves to find common ground before an arbitration hearing July 23 decides the goalie’s salary for the upcoming season.
It's getting late in the summer to still have three players unsigned, but that's where Columbus stands its two forwards and goaltender.
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Blue Jackets Monday Gathering: Latest on Fantilli, Greaves and Sillinger contracts
Jet Greaves
We’re listing Greaves first because he’s the most pressing matter. His arbitration hearing is set for Thursday in Toronto.
The Blue Jackets and Greaves can avoid that hearing by reaching terms on a new contract any time between now and the point at which the arbitrator begins deliberating after hearing both sides’ arguments.
If arbitration is necessary, Greaves will have a new contract by Saturday, as the ruling is due 48 hours after the hearing. (Yes, one way or another, one of the unsigned Blue Jackets will be under contract at this point next week.)
The Blue Jackets have the right to suggest a one- or two-year ruling, but will seek a one-year contract so that Greaves isn’t walked directly into unrestricted free agency after the 2027-28 season.
Goaltenders are notoriously tough to value, and you could understand strong arguments on both sides of the table.
Greaves had a very good season in 2025-26, his first full NHL campaign. By some metrics, he was a top-10 goaltender in the league. No question, he’s now the Blue Jackets’ No. 1 option in net. Those guys get paid.
However, he’s had only one strong season in the NHL. Greaves, 25, wasn’t a starter until this season, and some aren’t yet ready to stamp him as an NHL-level No. 1.
Adam Fantilli
Leo Carlsson, the No. 2 pick in the 2023 draft, signed a five-year, $90 million offer sheet with the Philadelphia Flyers that the Anaheim Ducks opted to match earlier this month.
Connor Bedard, the No. 1 pick in that draft, signed a five-year, $75 million contract with the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday.
Next up: Fantilli, the Blue Jackets’ No. 3 pick that year.
If Carlsson’s offer sheet threatened to “blow up” the market for young RFAs, perhaps Bedard’s — at a far lesser value despite significantly better production than Carlsson — might tilt it back the other direction.
At minimum, it could help set the parameters of a deal between the Blue Jackets and Fantilli, who is four years away from UFA status.
Cole Sillinger
Like Greaves, Sillinger filed for arbitration earlier this month. His hearing is set for next Monday (July 27) in Toronto.
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