Full Breakdown
Jet Greaves Arbitration Pits Columbus Blue Jackets Against Their Emerging Starting Goaltender
7/23/2026, 1:31:49 PM
Arbitration Standoff Over Salary
The Columbus Blue Jackets and restricted-free-agent goaltender Jet Grees filed arbitration briefs that differ by $4.7 million. The team’s brief, filed on July 21, requests a one-year salary of $2.8 million, while Greaves’ brief asks for $7.5 million. The hearing is set for 9 a.m. on July 23 in Toronto. If the parties cannot reach an agreement before the hearing, the arbitrator will issue a ruling within 48 hours and no further negotiations may occur after the hearing begins.
Background: Greaves’ Rise and Arbitration Rights
Undrafted, Greaves debuted with Columbus in 2022-23 and has compiled a career record of 36-28-11 with a .913 save percentage and a 2.60 goals-against average (GAA). In the 2024-25 season he posted a 7-2-2 record with a .938 save percentage and a 1.91 GAA, and as a full-time starter the following year he logged a 26-19-9 record, .908 save percentage and 2.60 GAA. Because he accrued sufficient NHL service time, Greaves is eligible for arbitration, a right he exercised this summer.
Financial Gap and Arbitration Mechanics
The arbitrator may award any salary, not limited to the parties’ figures, but must be at least 85 % of Greaves’ 2025-26 earnings of $825,000. The $4.7 million disparity represents the largest gap among the four arbitration cases filed for the 2025-26 season, according to the briefs. Columbus also has other pending arbitrations: forward Cole Sillinger is scheduled for a July 27 hearing, while other clubs (Carolina Hurricanes, New York Islanders, Florida Panthers) have hearings later in the summer.
Official Responses
General manager Don Waddell confirmed to The Athletic that the Blue Jackets submitted a $2.8 million figure and that Greaves countered with $7.5 million. The club has indicated a preference for a longer-term deal, whereas Greaves appears to be seeking a high-value one-year contract. Daily Faceoff analysts warned that a contentious arbitration could damage the relationship with a “key piece of the franchise,” emphasizing the importance of reaching common ground before the hearing.
Potential Implications for Columbus
If the arbitrator awards a figure near Greaves’ request, the Blue Jackets would allocate a sizable portion of their salary cap to a young goaltender, potentially limiting flexibility for other roster moves. Conversely, a lower award could strain Greaves’ perception of the organization and affect team culture, especially as the club seeks to build stability after recent roster changes. The outcome will shape both the goaltender’s role for the next season and the franchise’s broader contract-negotiation strategy.
