Columbus Blue Jackets

Columbus Blue Jackets
Conference Western
Division Central
Founded 2000
History Columbus Blue Jackets
2000–present
Home Arena Nationwide Arena
City Columbus, Ohio
Colors Goal Red, Capital Silver, Union Blue, White,

                   
Media FSN Ohio
WWCD (101.1 FM)
WBNS (1460 AM)
Owner(s) Flag of the United States John P. McConnell[1]
General Manager Flag of Canada Scott Howson
Head Coach Flag of Canada Ken Hitchcock
Captain Flag of Canada Rick Nash
Minor League Affiliates Syracuse Crunch (AHL)
Johnstown Chiefs (ECHL)
Youngstown SteelHounds (CHL)
Stanley Cups None
Conference Championships None
Division Championships None

The Columbus Blue Jackets are a professional ice hockey team based in Columbus, Ohio, United States. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League (NHL). Preceded in Ohio's capital by the Columbus Chill of the ECHL, the Blue Jackets were founded as an expansion team in 2000.[2] In their seven seasons, they have never finished higher than third place in their division and are the only active NHL team to have never qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.[3][4]

The Blue Jackets' name and logos are rooted in Ohio's rich Civil War history. Rick Nash, David Vyborny, Ray Whitney, Nikolai Zherdev, and Sergei Fedorov are some of the prominent NHL figures to have donned a Columbus sweater. Ken Hitchcock has been their coach since late 2006, and current general manager Scott Howson started in 2007. The Blue Jackets play their home games in downtown Columbus at Nationwide Arena, which opened in 2000.

Contents

Franchise history

Building a new franchise (1997–2000)

After the Cleveland Barons left in 1978, Ohio's hockey fans had to wait 22 years to host another NHL team. Columbus entered an expansion bid in 1997, along with several other cities.[5] The voters of Columbus were considering a referendum to build a publicly financed arena, a major step toward approval of their NHL bid.[6] When NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman visited Columbus to meet with the community's leaders about the franchise proposal, there was concern that the voters might not pass the needed referendum. The civic leaders told Bettman that they would not be willing to foot the bill for the team if the referendum failed. However, just after the meeting adjourned, John H. McConnell (one of those who entered the bid) privately guaranteed Bettman that an arena would be built, referendum or not.[7]

Nationwide Arena, the home of the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Columbus's hopes for the bid dimmed when the May referendum failed. However, Nationwide announced on May 31, 1997, that it would finance the $150-million arena. Subsequently, on June 25, 1997, the NHL announced that Columbus would receive a new franchise.[2]

On June 23, 2000, the NHL's two newest teams, the Blue Jackets and the Minnesota Wild, took part in the 2000 NHL Expansion Draft in Calgary, Alberta. Under the draft's rules, 26 of the NHL's active 28 teams were allowed to protect one goaltender, five defensemen, and nine forwards, or two goaltenders, three defensemen, and seven forwards. The Atlanta Thrashers and Nashville Predators both had their full rosters protected because they were the two newest teams, only being in existence for one and two years, respectively. Both the Blue Jackets and Wild had to use their first 24 selections on three goaltenders, eight defensemen, and thirteen forwards. Their final two picks could be players of any position.[8]

With the first-overall choice, the Blue Jackets selected goaltender Rick Tabaracci from the Colorado Avalanche.[9] Over the course of the draft, Columbus picked up goalie Dwayne Roloson, defensemen Lyle Odelein and Mathieu Schneider, and forwards Geoff Sanderson, Turner Stevenson, and Dallas Drake, among others.[10] Instead of joining Columbus, Roloson signed with the American Hockey League's Worcester IceCats,[11] Schneider left for the Los Angeles Kings,[12] and the St. Louis Blues signed Drake.[13] Columbus also traded Stevenson to the New Jersey Devils to complete an earlier transaction.[14]

The Blue Jackets and Wild were granted concessions by some franchises who could not protect their full rosters. The San Jose Sharks traded Jan Caloun, a ninth-round pick in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft, and a 2001 conditional pick to Columbus;[15] in return, the Blue Jackets agreed not to select the Sharks' unprotected goaltender Evgeni Nabokov.[16] The following day, June 24, at the 2000 NHL Entry Draft, Columbus selected Rostislav Klesla fourth overall.[17]

2000–2005

The Blue Jackets played their first regular-season game on October 7, 2000, a 5–3 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks. Bruce Gardiner scored the franchise's first goal.[18] Columbus finished with a 28–39–9–6 record for 71 points, last in the Central Division, and failed to qualify for the playoffs. [19] Geoff Sanderson became the first player in team history to score 30 goals. Ron Tugnutt, who was signed in the summer of 2000, supplied solid goaltending with 22 wins, which tied the 74-year-old NHL record for wins by an expansion-team goalie (New York Rangers' Lorne Chabot had also had 22 wins in 1926-27).[20]

The Blue Jackets finished next-to-last in the NHL in the following season, with only 57 points.[21] Ray Whitney, acquired from the Florida Panthers the previous season, led the team in scoring with 61 points, setting a franchise record.[22] Tragedy struck the Blue Jackets organization in March 2002 when 13-year-old Brittanie Cecil was killed after an errant shot by Espen Knutsen struck her in the head while she was in the stands at Nationwide Arena. As a result of her death, large nylon mesh nets are installed behind the goals in all NHL arenas to shield spectators from pucks going over the glass.[23] The team also wore small red hearts with the initials "BNC" on their helmets.[24]

During the offseason, the Blue Jackets traded a second-round pick (32nd overall) and Tugnutt to the Dallas Stars. In return, Columbus received Dallas's first-round pick (20th overall) in the 2002 draft.[25] On the morning of the draft, Columbus traded the third-overall pick and the option to flip draft spots in 2003 to the Florida Panthers; in return Columbus received the first-overall pick, which they used to select Rick Nash.[26]

The 2002–03 season started with Columbus putting up a 7–5–1–1 record after the first 14 games.[27] However, as expectations from their fans grew higher, the team came back to mediocrity, finishing last in the Central Division for the third consecutive season and missing the playoffs once again.[28] Dave King, who had been the team's head coach since their debut in 2000, was fired midseason and replaced by general manager Doug MacLean.[29][30] Marc Denis was named starting goalie; he played a franchise-record 77 games that season and set an NHL record with 4,511 minutes played in 2002-03. He tied for second all-time for games played in a season by a goaltender, just two shy of the NHL record held by St. Louis's Grant Fuhr in the 1995–96 season.[31][32]

The 2003–04 season was another losing season for the Blue Jackets despite key additions in the offseason. Checking center Todd Marchant was signed to a five-year contract in July from the Edmonton Oilers.[33] Defenseman Darryl Sydor, known to play strong offense as well, was acquired from the Dallas Stars for Mike Sillinger and a draft pick. MacLean stepped aside as head coach midway through the season, giving way to Gerard Gallant.[34] The Blue Jackets finished with just 62 points (the second-lowest total in their short history), but it was enough to help them break out of last place in the Central Division for the first time, finishing ahead of the Chicago Blackhawks. Nash was one of the few bright spots for the team; his 41 goals tied Jarome Iginla and Ilya Kovalchuk for the Rocket Richard Trophy (as NHL leader in goals scored).[35]

In the 2004 off-season, the NHL Players' Association and the NHL's administration failed to renew their collective bargaining agreement. September 14, 2004 marked the beginning of the lockout of the 2004-05 season. No games were played and the Stanley Cup was not awarded for the first time since the flu epidemic of 1919.[36] An agreement was made on July 13, 2005 and the lockout officially ended nine days later on July 22, 2005.

Post-lockout (2005–present)

In the summer of 2005, rugged Colorado Avalanche defenseman Adam Foote agreed to a three-year deal with the team.[37] Heading into the 2005–06 season, it appeared the Blue Jackets would finally take the next step and make the playoffs. Instead, injuries to Nash, Klesla, and Gilbert Brule, the team's 2005 first-round pick,[38] led to the team putting up a dismal 9–25–1 record through its first 35 games.[39] Superstar Sergei Fedorov was acquired from the Anaheim Mighty Ducks; Anaheim received Tyler Wright and Francois Beauchemin, and later claimed Todd Marchant off waivers.[40] While again failing to make the playoffs, Columbus did manage to improve. They had the best overtime record in the NHL (14–4) and finished the season with franchise records for wins (35) and points (74).[19] For the first time ever, they earned a third-place finish in the Central Division, behind Detroit and Nashville.[41]

2006-2007 saw several changes made to the team. In the offseason, Marc Denis was dealt to the Tampa Bay Lightning for forward Fredrik Modin and goaltending prospect Fredrik Norrena, making way for Pascal Leclaire to take the starting job.[42] The Blue Jackets also signed Anson Carter when it looked as if Nikolai Zherdev would be playing the season in Russia[43]; in late September, however, Zherdev and General Manager Doug MacLean were able to reach a compromise.[44] Partway through the season, on November 13, 2006, Gerard Gallant was relieved of his duties as head coach. The next day, Gary Agnew was named his interim replacement. On November 22, Ken Hitchcock, former coach of the Dallas Stars and Philadelphia Flyers, was named the new head coach, effective the following day.[45] Under Hitchcock's first year, two milestones were set: on December 10, 2006, the Blue Jackets scored a team-record five power-play goals against the Ottawa Senators in a 6–2 win.[46], and on April 3, 2007, the Blue Jackets broke the modern-day record for most times being shut-out in a season (16) with a 3–0 loss to the Detroit Red Wings.[47]

Rick Nash

On April 18, 2007, Doug MacLean, the team's first general manager and president, was fired after nine years and six seasons at the helm without a playoff berth. Mike Priest, President of Blue Jackets parent company JMAC, Inc.,[48] was named President of the club, while Assistant General Manager Jim Clark served as General Manager until the Blue Jackets named Edmonton Oilers Assistant General Manager Scott Howson as the new general manager on June 15.[19][49]

On October 4, 2007, the Blue Jackets announced their affiliation with the Elmira Jackals, which replaced their former affiliation with the Dayton Bombers as the club's ECHL affiliate.[50]

The 2007-2008 season, the club's first full season under Hitchcock, started off well as the Jackets got off to their best start in franchise history, starting with a 4-0 shutout of the defending Stanley Cup champion Anaheim Ducks. At the trade deadline on February 26, 2008, however, apparently unable to agree on a new contract and amid some controversy[51], Blue Jackets captain Adam Foote requested a trade to the Colorado Avalanche, which was granted. The Jackets received a pair of conditional picks in return. A few weeks later, on March 12, 2008, former Blue Jackets number-one draft pick Rick Nash was named the new team captain.[52] Despite this, Columbus managed its best season record to date, staying above .500 until the very last game of the season and finishing fourth in the Central Division with 80 points.[53] After the season, Nash was announced as the cover player for the NHL 2K9 video game by Take-Two Interactive.[54]

At the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, the Blue Jackets selected Nikita Filatov with the sixth overall pick. They also traded away the 19th overall pick (acquired from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for Adam Foote) for R.J. Umberger.

The Blue Jackets made many trades in the 2008 off season. Gilbert Brule was traded to the Edmonton Oilers for Raffi Torres. Enigmatic forward Nikolai Zherdev and Dan Fritsche were traded to the New York Rangers in exchange for defensemen Fedor Tyutin and Christian Backman. The Blue Jackets also signed free agents Kristian Huselius and Mike Commodore to multi-year contracts.

On July 9, 2008, the Blue Jackets announced they signed Hitchcock to a three-year extension to remain as head coach.[55]

On August 22, 2008, the Johnstown Chiefs were announced as the new ECHL affiliate for the Blue Jackets, as well as their AHL affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch.[56]

Team information

Team name

See also: Ohio in the American Civil War

The name "Blue Jackets" was chosen to celebrate "patriotism, pride, and the rich Civil War history in the state of Ohio and city of Columbus."[57] When President Abraham Lincoln requested that Ohio raise ten regiments at the outbreak of the Civil War, the state responded by raising a total of 23 volunteer infantry regiments for three months of service. Ohio also produced a number of great Civil War figures, including William Tecumseh Sherman, Ulysses S. Grant, Philip Sheridan, and George Custer. Columbus itself was host to large military bases, Camp Chase and Camp Thomas, which saw hundreds of thousands of Union soldiers and thousands of Confederate prisoners during the Civil War.

Jerseys

The team logo is a stylized version of the flag of Ohio. Previously used as an alternate logo, it became the primary logo as part of a Reebok-sponsored redesign for the 2007–08 season.[58] The team's sweaters feature an alternate logo, a Civil War cap with crossed hockey sticks, on the shoulders.

"The Cannon"

Prior to the start of the 2007–08 season, at the behest of fans, the Blue Jackets organization brought a hand-made replica 1857 Napoleon cannon into Nationwide Arena. The cannon is "fired" whenever:

The cannon itself is loaded with smoke flash charges; the loud "boom" accompanying is done with a .75oz concussion explosive above the rink.[59] It was fired 164 times in its inaugural season (41 home games, 20 home victories, 103 goals scored at home).

Broadcasters

On FSN Ohio, Jeff Rimer serves as the television play-by-play announcer alongside analyst Danny Gare, a former NHL player who had his number retired by the Buffalo Sabres.[60] On radio stations WWCD, WBNS, and 29 other affiliates in Ohio, George Matthews and Bill Davidge provide audio coverage. Matthews has been calling Blue Jackets games since the team's inception in 2000. Rimer started calling games on television in 2005, and Gare joined him in 2006.

FSN Ohio, which broadcasts 75 games per season, airs pre-game and post-game shows for each game, hosted by Jim Day, Bill Davidge, and Jeff Hogan. The host of the radio pre- and post-game shows is Mark Wyant. Fans can interact by email and phone with the radio personalties during and after the game.[61]

Season-by-season record

This is a partial list of the last five seasons completed by the Blue Jackets. For the full season-by-season history, see Columbus Blue Jackets seasons

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime Losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against, PIM = Penalties in minutes

Records as of June 4, 2008.[62][63]

Season GP W L T OTL Pts GF GA PIM Finish Playoffs
2003–04 82 25 45 8 4 62 177 238 1198 4th, Central Did not qualify
2004–05 Season canceled due to 2004–05 NHL lockout
2005–061 82 35 43 — 4 74 223 279 1416 3rd, Central Did not qualify
2006–07 82 33 42 — 7 73 201 249 1337 4th, Central Did not qualify
2007–08 82 34 36 — 12 80 193 218 1325 4th, Central Did not qualify
Totals 492 172 258 33 29 406 1165 1515 7888 — 0 playoff appearances
1 As of the 2005–06 NHL season, all games tied after overtime are decided in a shootout; SOL (shootout losses) are recorded as OTL in the standings.

Players

Current roster

Updated November 16, 2008.[1]

# Nat Player Pos S/G Age Acquired Birthplace
5 Flag of Sweden Backman, ChristianChristian Backman D L 29 2008 Alingsas, Sweden
40 Flag of the United States Boll, JaredJared Boll RW R 23 2005 Charlotte, North Carolina
16 Flag of Canada Brassard, DerickDerick Brassard C L 22 2006 Hull, Quebec
25 Flag of Canada Chimera, JasonJason Chimera LW L 30 2005 Edmonton, Alberta
22 Flag of Canada Commodore, MikeMike Commodore D R 29 2008 Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta
8 Flag of the Czech Republic Hejda, JanJan Hejda D L 31 2007 Prague, Czechoslovakia
20 Flag of Sweden Huselius, KristianKristian Huselius LW L 30 2008 Osterhaninge, Sweden
97 Flag of the Czech Republic Klesla, RostislavRostislav Klesla (A) D L 27 2000 Novy Jicin, Czechoslovakia
31 Flag of Canada Leclaire, PascalPascal Leclaire G L 26 2001 Repentigny, Quebec
27 Flag of Canada Malhotra, MannyManny Malhotra (A) C L 29 2003 Mississauga, Ontario
1 Flag of Canada Mason, SteveSteve Mason G L 21 2006 Oakville, Ontario
3 Flag of Canada Methot, MarcMarc Methot D L 24 2003 Ottawa, Ontario
33 Flag of Sweden Modin, FredrikFredrik Modin (A) LW L 35 2006 Sundsvall, Sweden
17 Flag of Canada Murray, AndrewAndrew Murray C L 27 2001 Selkirk, Manitoba
61 Flag of Canada Nash, RickRick Nash (C) LW L 25 2002 Brampton, Ontario
30 Flag of Finland Norrena, FredrikFredrik Norrena G L 35 2006 Pietarsaari, Finland
12 Flag of the Czech Republic Novotny, JiriJiri Novotny C R 26 2007 Pelhrimov, Czechoslovakia
19 Flag of Canada Peca, MichaelMichael Peca (A) C R 35 2007 Toronto, Ontario
55 Flag of Norway Tollefsen, Ole-KristianOle-Kristian Tollefsen D L 25 2002 Oslo, Norway
14 Flag of Canada Torres, RaffiRaffi Torres LW L 28 2008 Toronto, Ontario
51 Flag of Russia Tyutin, FedorFedor Tyutin D L 26 2008 Izhevsk, U.S.S.R.
18 Flag of the United States Umberger, R.J.R.J. Umberger C L 27 2008 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
93 Flag of the Czech Republic Voracek, JakubJakub Voracek RW L 20 2007 Kladno, Czechoslovakia

Team captains

Honored members

Hall-of-Famers

The Blue Jackets have not had any members of the Hockey Hall of Fame associated with their organization.

Retired numbers

The Blue Jackets have yet to retire any of their own numbers.

However, Wayne Gretzky's number 99 was retired league-wide on February 6, 2000.

First-round draft picks

See also: List of Columbus Blue Jackets draft picks

The following is a listing of players that the Blue Jackets have drafted in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft:[68]

Franchise scoring leaders

These are the top-ten point-scorers in franchise history as of the 2007–08 NHL season.

Note: Pos = Position; GP = Games Played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; P/G = Points per game; * = current Blue Jackets player

Points Goals Assists
Player Pos GP G A Pts P/G
David Vyborny[69] C 543 113 204 317 .58
Rick Nash*[70] LW 363 154 122 276 .76
Nikolai Zherdev[71] RW 283 76 105 181 .64
Geoff Sanderson[72] LW 261 88 80 168 .72
Ray Whitney[73] LW 151 45 95 140 .93
Jason Chimera*[74] LW 373 65 68 133 .37
Sergei Fedorov[75] C 185 39 74 113 .61
Manny Malhotra*[76] C 267 42 68 110 .41
Espen Knutsen[77] C 188 27 81 108 .36
Rostislav Klesla*[78] D 410 35 71 106 .26
Player Pos G
Rick Nash* LW 154
David Vyborny C 113
Geoff Sanderson LW 88
Nikolai Zherdev RW 76
Jason Chimera* LW 65
Tyler Wright[79] C 57
Ray Whitney LW 45
Manny Malhotra* C 42
Sergei Fedorov C 39
Rostislav Klesla* D 35
Player Pos A
David Vyborny C 204
Rick Nash* LW 122
Nikolai Zherdev RW 105
Ray Whitney LW 95
Espen Knutsen C 81
Geoff Sanderson LW 80
Sergei Fedorov C 74
Rostislav Klesla* D 71
Jason Chimera* LW 68
Manny Malhotra* C 68

NHL awards and trophies

Rocket Richard Trophy

Single-season records

References

  1. ↑ "Jackets' owners are on solid ice", The Columbus Dispatch (2008-05-04). Retrieved on 2008-06-19. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Blue Jackets History". Columbus Blue Jackets. Retrieved on 2008-07-24.
  3. ↑ Miller, Rusty (2008-01-14). "Blue Jackets rely on defense and grit to suddenly find themselves in playoff chase", Associated Press. Retrieved on 2008-06-19. 
  4. ↑ "2007-2008 Regular Season Standings". NHL. Retrieved on 2008-07-24.
  5. ↑ "NHL.com - History: Expanding". NHL. Retrieved on 2008-06-19.
  6. ↑ Minium, Harry (1997-01-14). "With Arena Deal In Hand, Underdog Shinn May Have An Advantage", The Virginian-Pilot. Retrieved on 2008-05-20. 
  7. ↑ Miller, Rusty (2008-05-07). "Public memorial honors Blue Jackets owner McConnell", Associated Press. Retrieved on 2008-06-19. 
  8. ↑ "The ins and outs of the Expansion Draft", ESPN.com (2000-06-13). Retrieved on 2008-06-19. 
  9. ↑ "Blue Jackets fill roster in expansion draft", ESPN.com (2000-06-23). Retrieved on 2008-06-19. 
  10. ↑ "Blue Jackets, Wild stock rosters, deal", Associated Press (2000-06-24). Retrieved on 2008-06-19. 
  11. ↑ "Roloson's friends in Ontario are following his playoff exploits closely", Canadian Press (2006-06-03). Retrieved on 2008-06-19. 
  12. ↑ Shactman, Brian A. (2000-08-18). "A Closer Look: Los Angeles Kings", ESPN.com. Retrieved on 2008-06-19. 
  13. ↑ "Blues place Drake on waivers", Associated Press (2007-06-26). Retrieved on 2008-06-19. 
  14. ↑ Lapointe, Joe (2000-06-24). "In Expansion Draft, Devils Emerge With a Gain of One", The New York Times. Retrieved on 2008-06-19. 
  15. ↑ "Blue Jackets sign Caloun, Nummelin", CBC Sports (2000-11-10). Retrieved on 2008-06-19. 
  16. ↑ Chi, Victor (2000-06-12). "Sharks protect goaltender from expansion teams", San Jose Mercury News. Retrieved on 2008-06-19. 
  17. ↑ "2000 Entry Draft". NHL. Retrieved on 2008-06-01.
  18. ↑ Shea, Kevin (2003-08-18). "Stanley Cup Journal: 31", HHOF.com. Retrieved on 2008-06-19. 
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 "Blue Jackets fire MacLean as president, GM", CBC Sports (2007-04-19). Retrieved on 2008-06-20. 
  20. ↑ Beech, Mark (2001-10-08). "SI's 2001-02 NHL Team Previews: Blue Jackets", Sports Illustrated. Retrieved on 2008-06-19. 
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  23. ↑ Foltman, Bob (2002-06-20). "NHL Teams to Install Netting Around Each Goal to Prevent Fan Injuries", Chicago Tribune. Retrieved on 2008-06-03. 
  24. ↑ "Family, Blue Jackets honor Brittanie Cecil at Funeral", Associated Press (2002-03-24). Retrieved on 2008-06-03. 
  25. ↑ Carlton, Chuck (2002-06-18). "Stars Get Veteran Tugnutt in Trade", The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved on 2008-06-03. 
  26. ↑ Heinen, Laurence (2002-06-22). "Consensus top pick drops to third", Hockey's Future. Retrieved on 2008-06-03. 
  27. ↑ "Columbus Blue Jackets Schedule". ESPN. Retrieved on 2008-06-03.
  28. ↑ "2002-2003 Standings". NHL. Retrieved on 2008-06-16.
  29. ↑ "Blue Jackets Hire King as Coach, Dave King Becomes Team's First Coach", Associated Press (2000-07-05). Retrieved on 2008-06-02. 
  30. ↑ Burnside, Scott (2004-01-04). ""Mediocre would be improvement"", ESPN.com. Retrieved on 2008-06-02. 
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 31.2 Picarello, Rob (2003-09-08). "New-look Jackets aim for postseason", NHL.com. Retrieved on 2008-06-18. 
  32. ↑ Gannam, Tom (2003-06-12). "Fuhr, LaFontaine picked for Hockey Hall of Fame", USA Today. Retrieved on 2008-06-16. 
  33. ↑ "Mighty Ducks Acquire Center Marchant from Columbus", ESPN.com (2005-11-21). Retrieved on 2008-07-24. 
  34. ↑ "MacLean Resigns as Blue Jackets Coach, Remains GM", Associated Press (2004-01-01). Retrieved on 2008-06-03. 
  35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 "Richard Trophy winners", Associated Press (2004-04-04). Retrieved on 2008-06-18. 
  36. ↑ Brink, Graham (2004-06-05). "Injuries sideline players only rarely", St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved on 2008-06-17. 
  37. ↑ "Foote's three-year deal reportedly worth $13.8 million", Associated Press (2005-08-03). Retrieved on 2008-06-20. 
  38. ↑ Coffey, Phil (2005-10-14). "Injury bug bites Jackets hard", NHL.com. Retrieved on 2008-06-20. 
  39. ↑ "Columbus Blue Jackets Schedule - 2005-06". ESPN.com. Retrieved on 2008-06-20.
  40. ↑ "Ducks claim Marchant off waivers", TSN.ca (2005-11-21). Retrieved on 2008-06-20. 
  41. ↑ "2005-2006 Regular Season Standings". NHL (2006-04-19). Retrieved on 2008-06-20.
  42. ↑ Jones, Tom (2006-06-30). "Lighnting gets No. 1 goalie", St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved on 2008-06-20. 
  43. ↑ Allen, Kevin (2006-09-13). "Blue Jackets, with eye on Zherdev, sign veteran Carter; Flyers GM Clarke angry", USA Today. Retrieved on 2008-06-20. 
  44. ↑ "Zherdev finally signs with Blue Jackets", Associated Press (2006-09-29). Retrieved on 2008-06-20. 
  45. ↑ "Former Flyers Coach Hitchock Is Hired to Guide Blue Jackets", Associated Press (2006-11-23). Retrieved on 2008-06-20. 
  46. ↑ "Blue Jackets beat Senators 6-2", Associated Press (2006-12-11). Retrieved on 2008-06-20. 
  47. ↑ "Elias Says ...", Elias Sports Bureau (2007-04-03). Retrieved on 2008-06-20. 
  48. ↑ "Mike Priest, Managing Board Member". Columbus Destroyers. Retrieved on 2008-06-20.
  49. ↑ Columbus Blue Jackets (2007-06-15). "Blue Jackets Name Scott Howson General Manager". Press release. Retrieved on 2007-06-15.
  50. ↑ Juniewicz, Debbie (2007-10-06). "Bombers lose Blue Jackets affiliation", Dayton Daily News. Retrieved on 2008-06-20. 
  51. ↑ Arace, Michael (2008-03-01). "Something stinks with Foote's story on staying put", The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved on 2008-06-08. 
  52. ↑ 52.0 52.1 Columbus Blue Jackets (2008-03-21). "Rick Nash Named Columbus Blue Jackets Team Captain". Press release. Retrieved on 2008-06-18.
  53. ↑ "2007-2008 Regular Season Standings". NHL. Retrieved on 2008-06-20.
  54. ↑ "Risebrough, Lemaire hear call of Wild", Canwest News Service (2008-05-16). Retrieved on 2008-06-20. 
  55. ↑ "Hitchcock signs three-year extension as Blue Jackets' coach", Associated Press (2008-07-09). Retrieved on 2008-07-09. 
  56. ↑ "Columbus Blue Jackets Announce ECHL Affiliation Agreement with Johnstown Chiefs for 2008-09 Season", Columbus Blue Jackets (2008-08-22). Retrieved on 2008-08-24. 
  57. ↑ "Blue Jackets History Timeline". Columbus Blue Jackets. Retrieved on 2007-07-25.
  58. ↑ "Making sense of the NHL's new uniforms", Canadian Press (2007-09-25). Retrieved on 2008-06-20. 
  59. ↑ "3 ... 2 .... 1 ... ka-boom!!!". Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved on 2008-07-28.
  60. ↑ "Buffalo Sabres Retired Numbers". Buffalo Sabres. Retrieved on 2008-06-20.
  61. ↑ "Columbus Blue Jackets - Multimedia - Radio and TV". Columbus Blue Jackets. Retrieved on 2008-06-20.
  62. ↑ "Columbus Blue Jackets season statistics and records". The Internet Hockey Database. Retrieved on 2008-06-18.
  63. ↑ "NHL - Statistics by Team". Yahoo!. Retrieved on 2008-06-06.
  64. ↑ "Veteran defenseman signs 1-year deal", SportsTicker (2003-09-09). Retrieved on 2008-06-18. 
  65. ↑ Amber, David (2007-01-04). "Ray Whitney ... former stick boy, current Cup champ", ESPN.com. Retrieved on 2008-06-20. 
  66. ↑ "Richardson removes 'C' from Blue Jackets sweater", Associated Press (2005-11-29). Retrieved on 2008-06-18. 
  67. ↑ "Blue Jackets activate Foote from injured list", Associated Press (2005-12-09). Retrieved on 2008-06-18. 
  68. ↑ "Columbus Blue Jackets - Team - NHL Draft - All Years". NHL. Retrieved on 2008-07-24.
  69. ↑ "David Vyborny Stats, News, Photos". ESPN. Retrieved on 2008-06-25.
  70. ↑ "Rick Nash Stats, News, Photos". ESPN. Retrieved on 2008-06-25.
  71. ↑ "Nikolai Zherdev Stats, News, Photos". ESPN. Retrieved on 2008-06-25.
  72. ↑ "Geoff Sanderson Stats, News, Photos". ESPN. Retrieved on 2008-06-25.
  73. ↑ "Ray Whitney Stats, News, Photos". ESPN. Retrieved on 2008-06-25.
  74. ↑ "Jason Chimera Stats, News, Photos". ESPN. Retrieved on 2008-06-25.
  75. ↑ "Sergei Fedorov Stats, News, Photos". ESPN. Retrieved on 2008-06-25.
  76. ↑ "Manny Malhotra Stats, News, Photos". ESPN. Retrieved on 2008-06-25.
  77. ↑ "Espen Knutsen". NHL. Retrieved on 2008-06-25.
  78. ↑ "Rostislav Klesla Stats, News, Photos". ESPN. Retrieved on 2008-06-25.
  79. ↑ "Tyler Wright". NHL. Retrieved on 2008-06-25.
  80. ↑ 80.0 80.1 "Ray Whitney Official Player Page". NHL. Retrieved on 2008-06-20.
  81. ↑ "Rick Nash Official Player Page". NHL. Retrieved on 2008-06-18.
  82. ↑ "Geoff Sanderson Official Player Page". NHL. Retrieved on 2008-06-20.
  83. ↑ "Rick Nash". NHL. Retrieved on 2008-07-24.
  84. ↑ "Jody Shelley". NHL. Retrieved on 2008-07-24.
  85. ↑ Columbus Blue Jackets (2008-04-29). "Columbus Blue Jackets Re-Sign Defenseman Jan Hejda to Three-Year Contract". Press release. Retrieved on 2008-06-25.
  86. ↑ "Jaroslav Spacek Official Player Page". NHL. Retrieved on 2008-06-18.
  87. ↑ 87.0 87.1 87.2 Columbus Blue Jackets (2008-04-16). "Columbus Blue Jackets Announce Team Awards for 2007-08". Press release. Retrieved on 2008-06-18.
  88. ↑ "Fedorov sends Blue Jackets over Blues", Associated Press (2006-12-09). Retrieved on 2008-06-18. 

See also

External links