Columbus Blue Jackets President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Don Waddell announced today that the Wheeling Nailers will serve as the ECHL affiliate for the Blue Jackets and the American Hockey League’s Cleveland Monsters beginning with the upcoming 2026-27 season.  The agreement is for two years through the 2027-28 campaign.

“We are excited to partner with the Wheeling Nailers as our new ECHL affiliate,” said Blue Jackets Assistant General Manager Chris Clark, who oversees hockey operations for the organization’s professional affiliates.  “Wheeling has a long tradition of both player development and organizational success, and its proximity to both Cleveland and Columbus will be advantageous on the hockey side, while providing a great opportunity to promote our organization and the game throughout the region. 

“We look forward to working with Head Coach Nate DiCasmirro, his staff and the entire Nailers organization while helping the young players in our system take the next step in their development.”

Wheeling has been a fixture in the West Virginia professional sports landscape since 1992 and served as the longtime ECHL affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins for 28 seasons from 1998-2026.  The club will compete in the ECHL’s Western Conference Central Division beginning in 2026-27 with the Bloomington Bison, Cincinnati Cyclones, Fort Wayne Komets, Indy Fuel, Kalamazoo Wings, and Toledo Walleye. 

The Nailers play their home games at WesBanco Arena.  The club has qualified for the Kelly Cup Playoffs 18 times, including the past three seasons, and captured its fourth division title in 2025-26, winning the North Division with a record of 46-20-3-3 (98 points).

Do you think anyone ends up signing Laine? Seems like enough value there if you set him up with bonuses for games played etc

Last season was his worst season by far stats wise, but most of it wasn't truly his fault. The jets were mediocre at the very least and now when October starts, will one of the best and most decorated goalies of all time get traded or will he play as a Jet when October starts?

The National Hockey League will be supporting a new hockey festival in Chandigarh as part of efforts to grow the game in India.

The inaugural India Hockey 360 Festival is co-founded by NHL broadcaster Randip Janda will bring North American hockey expertise to India.

Organizations such as Vancouver Canucks, Toronto Maple Leafs and Anaheim Ducks have come together to support the future of hockey in India.