Best Boone Jenner destinations if he leaves Blue Jackets in 2026 NHL Free Agency

The Columbus Blue Jackets did not make the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2026. They certainly put up a good fight, especially after hiring Rick Bowness as head coach midseason. In the end, their surge midyear wasn’t enough. But there is plenty for captain Boone Jenner and his teammates to be happy with.

At the same time, there is a chance that 2025-26 was Jenner’s last chance to win with Columbus. He is an unrestricted free agent when the new league year begins on July 1. The Blue Jackets recently signed Charlie Coyle to a six-year contract extension, as well. Columbus and Jenner will certainly talk. But, as The Athletic’s Aaron Portzline recently pointed out, there is a legitimate possibility the two part ways.

“The Blue Jackets have arrived at a pivotal summer, one in which their actions must finally meet their words, and the more you look at the dynamics in play, the harder it is to see a clear spot where Jenner is a fit,” Portzline wrote for The Athletic.

Seeing Jenner in a new sweater would certainly be weird. He is the all-time leader in games played for this franchise. The next closest, Rick Nash, played 647 games. Jenner, on the other hand, has played 808 games with Columbus. The current captain also ranks third in goals and third in points for the Blue Jackets all-time.

All things must come to an end at some point, though. So, assuming he leaves the Blue Jackets this summer, here are two potential destinations for Boone Jenner.

Boone Jenner could help Wild chase Stanley Cup

The Minnesota Wild made a big trade for Quinn Hughes this season to chase a Stanley Cup. In the end, the trade was a success, though the team fell short of the Stanley Cup. Hughes will return to the Wild in 2026-27, barring some sort of miracle. As a result, the Wild will likely look to improve their roster as best they can.

Jenner is far from a flashy player, but he is certainly an effective one. The Blue Jackets captain can provide important secondary offense, but more importantly, he is a well-respected leader. He is the second-longest captain in Columbus history behind Nick Foligno. Foligno was traded to the Wild at the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline, creating a connection should Foligno return for 2026-27 season.

The most important aspect of this is the center depth. The Wild have needed to improve their center depth for a while. They traded Marco Rossi to the Vancouver Canucks in the deal for Hughes. Without Rossi, the team’s center depth took a big hit.

Jenner will not be a No. 1 center for any team. In saying this, the Wild may not have the assets to acquire a true No. 1 center. They can offset this by acquiring a workhorse who makes them better down the middle of the ice while contributing at both ends like Jenner.

Blue Jackets’ captain could head home to Maple Leafs

The Toronto Maple Leafs have a new look about them heading into 2026-27. John Chayka is in as general manager, and he will hire a new coach after firing Craig Berube recently. What the Maple Leafs do in free agency certainly remains to be seen. A reliable veteran in Jenner could make a lot of sense, no matter what they do.

John Tavares is heading toward the end of his career. As a result, some discourse over his role in the lineup has occurred. There is a fair argument to be made that the veteran pivot should move down to the third line.

At the same time, Tavares just scored 31 goals and 71 points as a 35-year-old. That sort of production can stick on the second line, even if he’s getting up there in age. If the new braintrust want to keep Tavares where he is, signing Jenner to fill the third-line role is a home run move.

The Maple Leafs have the talent to contend for a Stanley Cup despite missing the playoffs in 2026. Jenner could certainly aid in their efforts to return to the postseason, if Chayka and company elect to go for it again in 2027.

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