State of the Blue Jackets: Aaron Portzline on Defense, Goalies & Fantilli

Welcome into another Columbus Blue Jackets Daily Blitz with Jeff “Tito” Thitoff as he’s joined by Aaron Portzline of The Athletic, who has covered the Jackets since Day 1.Tito and Porty dive into:Why he grades the Jackets’ season so far as a C– / D+The surprising split in goal tending between Elvis Merzļikins and Jet GreavesWhy the team’s defensive play has actually gotten worse despite the focus on tightening upCoaching vs. talent: are the problems behind the bench, on the ice, or both?The blown leads, late-game collapses, and the mental side of closing out winsBrad Marchand listening in at the bench and what that says about league-wide respect for ColumbusAdam Fantilli’s future in Columbus, how he should be used, and why he needs to be treated like a true No. 1 centerWhere this year’s roster ranks among the 25 seasons of Blue Jackets hockey and why another NHL-caliber goalie may be neededIf you’re a CBJ fan trying to make sense of this season and what comes next, this is a must-watch breakdown.👉 Follow Tito on X/Twitter: @ThitHappens👉 Read Aaron Portzline on The Athletic👉 Visit FanStreamSports.com for more Jackets, NHL, and Columbus sports coverage.