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Aaron Portzline

@aportzline.bsky.social

I cover the NHL and Columbus Blue Jackets for The Athletic. Sportswriting since 1986.

2,430 Followers  |  1 Following  |  95 Posts  |  Joined: 14.11.2024  |  1.5822

Latest posts by aportzline.bsky.social on Bluesky

#CBJΒ  Elvis Merzlikins will start on Saturday vs. #mnwild

10.10.2025 19:57 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1
Preview
A tough break β€” and another tough loss β€” for the Blue Jackets in Music City Thursday's 2-1 defeat marked the 10th consecutive in Nashville for the Blue Jackets.

The Athletic: Another frustrating night in Nashville for #CBJΒ , who have lost 10 straight in Music City.

A 2-1 loss to #SmashvilleΒ swings after a Mathieu Olivier goal is overturned.

β€œI don’t even know what to say, because … I don’t know what to say.” - Dean Evason

www.nytimes.com/athletic/670...

10.10.2025 11:45 β€” πŸ‘ 6    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

#CBJΒ  Jet Greaves will start tonight in Nashville.

09.10.2025 16:02 β€” πŸ‘ 24    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 4
Preview
Yegor Chinakhov, after trade request, expected to be scratched from Blue Jackets’ opener The Blue Jackets open their season on Thursday in Nashville.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/670... Yegor Chinakhov, after trade request, expected to be scratched from Blue Jackets’ opener

08.10.2025 18:08 β€” πŸ‘ 13    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Cam Atkinson to sign one-day contract, retire with the Blue Jackets

www.nytimes.com/athletic/669... Cam Atkinson to sign one-day contract, retire with the Blue Jackets

08.10.2025 18:08 β€” πŸ‘ 25    πŸ” 5    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 4
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Breaking down the Blue Jackets’ high-powered forward lines: Skill, speed, size With the season opener looming, a look at what Dean Evason is expected to trot out, with a word from each line's center on what to expect.

The Athletic: #CBJΒ  scored as many goals as high-powered Toronto last season, good for 7th-most in the NHL.

How they align to start 2025-26, plus strengths, concerns and insights from centers Sean Monahan, Adam Fantilli, Charlie Coyle and Isac Lundestrom.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/669...

08.10.2025 11:58 β€” πŸ‘ 11    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

#CBJ coach Dean Evason said they’re still in the process of selecting an opening night starter, Jet Greaves or Elvis Merzlikins. (And if you believe that … )

But, whomever doesn’t start Thursday’s opener in Nashville will start Saturday’s game in St. Paul, Minn.

07.10.2025 16:50 β€” πŸ‘ 15    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

#CBJ Kirill Marchenko had a personal matter to attend to this morning, per coach Dean Evason.

He’s skating on his own now and is full go for Thursday’s opener.

07.10.2025 16:30 β€” πŸ‘ 12    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Don’t see #CBJ Kirill Marchenko at practice today. No word yet on why. #CBJ were off the last two days with the season opener set for Thursday in Nashville.

Yegor Chinakhov taking Marchenko’s spot beside Dmitri Voronkov and Sean Monahan.

07.10.2025 14:38 β€” πŸ‘ 9    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 1

nytimes.com/athletic/66940… β€˜More than a hockey game’: 25 years later, the Blue Jackets’ debut still resonates

07.10.2025 12:56 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

The Athletic: On Oct. 7, 2000, the pick was dropped on the Blue Jackets’ inaugural season, and Columbus became a major-league city
Ron Tugnutt, Tyler Wright, Kevin Dineen, Geoff Sanderson, and Espen Knutsen grabbed the city in a way that still reverberates 25 years later
#CBJ
1/2

07.10.2025 12:56 β€” πŸ‘ 14    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 0
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Blue Jackets Sunday Gathering: Feisty, disruptive Miles Wood looks the part Also, will a tepid preseason lead to any roster changes before the season opener?

www.nytimes.com/athletic/668... Blue Jackets Sunday Gathering: Feisty, disruptive Miles Wood looks the part

05.10.2025 12:34 β€” πŸ‘ 12    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Blue Jackets Sunday Gathering: Feisty, disruptive Miles Wood looks the part Also, will a tepid preseason lead to any roster changes before the season opener?

www.nytimes.com/athletic/668... Blue Jackets Sunday Gathering: Feisty, disruptive Miles Wood looks the part

05.10.2025 12:34 β€” πŸ‘ 12    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

#CBJ lose D Daemon Hunt on waivers to Minnesota, per @reporterchris . Oh, the irony.

Hunt was acquired from the Wild, along with a first-, second-, third-, and fourth-round pick in the David Jiricek trade last Nov. 30.

#CBJ we’re hoping to get him through to @monstershockey.

03.10.2025 19:21 β€” πŸ‘ 6    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

#CBJ Elvis Merzlikins will start on Saturday at Washington, the preseason finale. Plan is for him to play the full 60.

Coach Dean Evason said no decision has been made as to who - Merzlikins or Jet Greaves - will start the Oct. 9 opener in Nashville.

03.10.2025 15:59 β€” πŸ‘ 9    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
2025-26 Blue Jackets bold predictions: Playoff drought ends? Boone Jenner extension? Plus, is Jet Greaves cleared for takeoff? And could a familiar face return to the lineup at the trade deadline?

www.nytimes.com/athletic/668... 2025-26 Blue Jackets bold predictions: Playoff drought ends? Boone Jenner extension?

03.10.2025 11:54 β€” πŸ‘ 11    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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Former #CBJ Jack Roslovic, who had 22 goals for #RaiseUp last season, remains the NHL’s top unsigned free agent. He’s skating every other day at a suburban rink in Columbus, his hometown.
He politely declined an interview request from The Athletic this morning.

02.10.2025 14:35 β€” πŸ‘ 21    πŸ” 5    πŸ’¬ 3    πŸ“Œ 4
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With Monahan, Fantilli and Coyle, Blue Jackets have center depth like never before The Blue Jackets have become the envy of many NHL clubs at the position after struggling for years to strengthen their offensive spine.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/667... With Monahan, Fantilli and Coyle, Blue Jackets have center depth like never before

30.09.2025 12:57 β€” πŸ‘ 9    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Many, many thanks to all who followed @theohiohockeynetwork on Instagram and helped create an opportunity for student broadcasters in beautiful Athens, Oh.

Delighted to say they’re now up and over 1,000 followers, and able to broadcast @OhioU hockey games.

You people rock!

29.09.2025 02:07 β€” πŸ‘ 16    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
Login β€’ Instagram Welcome back to Instagram. Sign in to check out what your friends, family & interests have been capturing & sharing around the world.

You all do Instagram, right?

Do me a favor for some up and coming broadcast journalists at Ohio U. in Athens who want to provide live broadcasts of Bobcats hockey on Instagram.

They need 1,000 followers to go live. Let’s get them there.

Follow IG: www.instagram.com/theohiohocke...

28.09.2025 11:37 β€” πŸ‘ 10    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

#CBJ training camp roster now stands at 38: 22 forwards, 12 defensemen, 4 goaltenders

27.09.2025 18:23 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

#CBJ place four players on waivers: D Dysin Mayo, F Hunter McKown, G Zach Sawchenko, C Owen Sillinger.

They’ll be sent to AHL Cleveland if they clear. @monstershockey.bsky.social

27.09.2025 18:22 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

#CBJ send the following players to AHL Cleveland @monstershockey:

F Roman Ahcan, F Riley Bezeau, D Ole Julian Bjorgvik-Holm, D Will MacKinnon and F Ryland Mosley.

F Jordan Dumais (hip) and D Luca Marrelli (shoulder) placed on IR.

27.09.2025 18:21 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

#CBJ G Ivan Fedotov cleared waivers.

27.09.2025 18:03 β€” πŸ‘ 21    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 2

But Fedotov has β€œworked his ass off,” coach Dean Evason said today and played very well. They’d be delighted w him as their organizational No. 3.

27.09.2025 11:03 β€” πŸ‘ 7    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

… on their roster needs, also more time for goalies across the league to suffer injuries that might make Fedotov a consideration.
My sense is Jet Greaves and Elvis Merzlikins are still highly likely to be the two #CBJ goalies at the start of the season.

27.09.2025 11:03 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

GMs have to be smart about timing waivers, especially for goaltenders. If he clears on Saturday, it doesn’t mean he’ll go immediately to @monstershockey. In fact, I doubt he will. More likely at the end of camp.
But to wait until closer to the end of camp gives other teams more clarity …

27.09.2025 11:01 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

#CBJ placed Ivan Fedotov on waivers today. The plan has been for him to be the No. 1 w AHL Cleveland, but he needs to be exposed to all 31 teams before that’s possible.

Don’t be alarmed by the early waive. It’s actually a reflection of how WELL he’s played in the preseason.

1/?

27.09.2025 10:59 β€” πŸ‘ 10    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 4    πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
What we’ve learned in the first week of Blue Jackets training camp, preseason A look at Columbus' roster situation after four preseason games and with cuts looming heading into the second week of camp.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/666... What we’ve learned in the first week of Blue Jackets training camp, preseason

26.09.2025 11:43 β€” πŸ‘ 12    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Veteran Blue Jacket Damon Severson hopes for new path forward after summer sit-down Severson hasn't lit up Columbus the way he or the team had hoped. This season, he wants to play his game.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/665... Veteran Blue Jacket Damon Severson hopes for new path forward after summer sit-down

24.09.2025 11:09 β€” πŸ‘ 11    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

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