Inside the Deal: Don Waddell on the Blue Jackets' Blockbuster With Toronto.

John Shannon and Daren Millard are back on 100% Hockey as the NHL regular season gets underway, with Columbus Blue Jackets President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Don Waddell joining the show.

The guys begin with Jared Bednar’s new four-year extension in Colorado and look back at the first night of the NHL season, including Montreal’s win over Toronto and Vancouver’s overtime victory against Edmonton.

Then, Waddell takes John and Daren inside one of the biggest trades of the young season. Columbus acquired Matthew Knies, Emil Andrae, Steven Lorentz and a conditional draft pick from Toronto in a major deal that sent Kirill Marchenko, Elvis Merzlikins and Miles Wood to the Maple Leafs.

Waddell discusses the thinking behind the deal, what made Knies an attractive addition for Columbus, and the circumstances surrounding Marchenko’s departure. He also breaks down how the move changes the Blue Jackets’ roster and where the organization stands as a new season begins.

With significant changes in Columbus, the conversation turns to expectations for the year ahead and how Waddell sees the new pieces fitting into a Blue Jackets team looking to take another step forward.

Plus, John and Daren break down the early returns from opening night and some of the first storylines of the 2026-27 NHL season.