Blue Jackets Pipeline Runs Through Cleveland And Wheeling
Columbus' two professional affiliates are the AHL's Cleveland Monsters and, beginning in 2026-27, the ECHL's Wheeling Nailers.
Columbus' player-development system includes two affiliates below the NHL club: the Cleveland Monsters in the American Hockey League and the Wheeling Nailers in the ECHL.
Cleveland is the Blue Jackets' AHL affiliate. The Monsters play at Rocket Arena and are listed in the AHL's North Division. Cleveland is roughly 140 miles north of Columbus.
Wheeling will become the ECHL affiliate of both the Blue Jackets and the Monsters beginning with the 2026-27 season, under an agreement through 2027-28. The Nailers will move from the ECHL's North Division to its Western Conference Central Division for 2026-27 and play home games at WesBanco Arena.
The two affiliations give Columbus a route to assign players at the AHL and ECHL levels; individual paths vary by player and season.
