The Columbus Blue Jackets have signed defenseman Egor Zamula to a one-year, NHL contract for the remainder of the 2025-26 season. The announcement was made by Blue Jackets President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Don Waddell on Tuesday, January 6, 2026.
Zamula, 25, brings a mix of size and mobility to the Blue Jackets' blue line. Throughout his NHL career, he has recorded 8 goals and 33 assists for 41 points, along with 48 penalty minutes, in 168 games with the Philadelphia Flyers. This season, he has one assist and a +4 plus/minus rating in 13 games.
"Egor is a mobile defenseman with good size who sees the ice well and can move the puck very efficiently. We are excited to have him join our hockey club,” said Waddell.
Prior to joining the Blue Jackets, Zamula's journey involved a series of transactions. He began the season with the Philadelphia Flyers but saw limited action, leading to him being placed on waivers in early December. On New Year's Eve, he was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for Philip Tomasino. However, Zamula was then suspended by the Penguins for not reporting to their AHL affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, which ultimately led to the termination of his contract.
According to PuckPedia, the contract is worth a prorated $1 million.
With injuries to Erik Gudbranson and Brendan Smith, Zamula has an opportunity to step into the lineup immediately. The Blue Jackets have been seeking a bigger body to add to their defense, and Zamula, at 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds, fits the bill. He could potentially replace Jake Christiansen on the third pairing.
Throughout his career, Zamula has also played 130 games in the AHL, where he tallied 5 goals and 51 assists for 56 points. Before turning pro, the Chelyabinsk, Russia, native played three seasons in the Western Hockey League (WHL) with the Regina Pats and Calgary Hitmen, amassing 19 goals and 83 assists for 102 points in 158 games. He also helped Russia win a silver medal at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championships.
Zamula will join fellow Russians Ivan Provorov, Kirill Marchenko, and Dmitri Voronkov in Columbus. The Blue Jackets (18-16-7) are looking to improve their position in the Eastern Conference standings. They return to action tonight on the road against the San Jose Sharks.
