It's still summer in Columbus, but before you know it, hockey season will be here.

The days will get shorter and cooler, and with the Blue Jackets' home opener set for Oct. 4, we're now much closer to the return of hockey season than we are the end of last year's campaign.

Coming off the deepest playoff run in franchise history, as well as a season in which the Blue Jackets sold out 15 regular-season home dates, there should be plenty of buzz for the upcoming campaign. Columbus returns 12 of its top 13 scorers, brings back one of the deepest blue lines in the NHL, and welcomes in new blood like Gustav Nyquist, Alexandre Texier and Elvis Merzlikins.

With single-game ticket sales beginning August 23, here's a look at the highlights of the upcoming home schedule.