Jet Greaves and the Blue Jackets are headed to an arbitration hearing this Thursday. Ethan Miller / Getty ImagesJuly 21, 2026 Updated 11:55 am EDTWith two days to go before the Columbus Blue Jackets and goaltender Jet Greaves head to arbitration, the two sides exchanged figures on Tuesday.The Blue Jackets, who have requested a one-year contract ruling from the arbitrator, have filed for a $2.8 million salary for Greaves. The player, through his agent Pat Brisson, has requested $7.5 million.The hearing is scheduled for Thursday in Toronto.The figures, first reported by Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, were confirmed to The Athletic by Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell.Did the Panthers and Lightning fleece the Leafs?Sean McIndoe and Jonas SiegelThat’s a sizeable gap — $4.7 million — between the club’s request and the player’s, but it requires some explanation.
The arbitrator is tasked with finding the appropriate salary in the middle, not picking either the club’s “ask” or the player’s.Each side leans toward an extreme version of what they believe is appropriate, as a way to draw the arbitrator’s “mid-range” finding either lower (club) or higher (player).Greaves became the Blue Jackets’ No. 1 goaltender this season, playing in 55 games — including 53 starts — and going 26-19-9 with a .908 save percentage and 2.60 goals-against average.The Blue Jackets and Greaves can still avoid arbitration by agreeing to a contract between now and Thursday’s hearing. But once each side makes its pitch, and the case is in the arbitrator’s hands, there are no more negotiations.Blue Jackets forward Cole Sillinger may be the next Columbus player to reach the arbitration table. His hearing is set for next Monday in Toronto.Since joining the NHL as an expansion franchise in 2000, the Blue Jackets have never had a player go through the arbitration process.Jul 21, 2026Connections: Sports EditionSpot the pattern. Connect the termsFind the hidden link between sports terms
