Steal for the Blue Jackets

Jet Greaves will remain with the Columbus Blue Jackets after the two sides avoided arbitration by agreeing to a three-year, $15 million contract on Thursday. The deal, first reported by NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, carries a $5 million average annual value.

Greaves was scheduled to appear before an arbitrator later in the day, but Columbus reached an agreement before the hearing took place. The agreement falls between the numbers both sides submitted for arbitration, with the Blue Jackets filing at $2.8 million and Greaves seeking $7.5 million per season.

It marks a sizable jump from the two-year deal that paid him $812,500 per season. Fans reacted on X after Elliotte Friedman reported the deal.

One fan wrote:

“That’s a steal for the Blue Jackets.”

Another asked:

“Is this from arbitration or is this just a deal”

One fan believed Columbus should have committed to Greaves for a longer term.

“They shoulda locked him up for 8 years.”

Another user shared the same opinion, posting:

“Would have liked for them to lock him up for longer before arbitration but I’ll take 3 years at 5 mil. Not bad at all let’s go Jet!”

Meanwhile, one fan questioned why the deal wasn’t longer, writing:

“Feels like Don didn’t want to go long term…… L”

Jet Greaves enjoyed a career-best season with the Blue Jackets

Jet Greaves enters the 2026-27 season after becoming the Blue Jackets’ No. 1 goaltender.

The 25-year-old made 55 appearances, finishing with a 26-19-9 record, a 2.60 goals-against average and a .908 save percentage, although the Blue Jackets fell short of a playoff berth.

Jet Greaves was also named Canada’s starting goaltender for the 2026 IIHF World Championship. Greaves started all eight games, posting a 6-2 record with a 1.88 goals-against average and a .920 save percentage in his first major international tournament.

After going undrafted out of the Ontario Hockey League, Greaves worked his way into Columbus’ lineup. Following his time with the Barrie Colts, he signed with the Cleveland Monsters ahead of the 2021-22 season and gradually worked his way up the depth chart.

Greaves appeared in NHL games over each of the previous four seasons before taking over the starting role in 2025-26. He first joined the organization as an undrafted free agent and spent several years with the Cleveland Monsters before becoming Columbus’ first-choice goaltender.