Columbus Blue Jackets
The Columbus Blue Jackets are a professional ice hockey team based in Columbus, Ohio. They compete in the National Hockey LeagueNHLThe National Hockey League (NHL) is a men’s professional ice hockey league with clubs in the United States and Canada. Founded in Montreal in 1917, it comprises 32 teams and awards the Stanley Cup to its playoff champion.Open the full entry (NHL) and play at Nationwide Arena.
Contents11 sections
Key facts
1997Expansion and naming
The NHL awarded Columbus an expansion franchise on June 25, 1997. Announced on November 11, the name Blue Jackets refers to the blue uniforms of Union soldiers in the American Civil War.[1]
2000Building the first team
Columbus selected Rostislav Klesla fourth overall in 2000. Its NHL debut on October 7 ended in a 5–3 loss to Chicago.[2]
2002–2004Rick Nash
The Blue Jackets drafted Rick Nash first overall in 2002. His 41 goals in 2003–04 earned a shared Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy with Jarome Iginla and Ilya Kovalchuk.[2]
2008Ownership succession
John P. McConnell took over the club after his father John H. McConnell died in 2008.[2]
2009First playoff appearance
Columbus first reached the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2009 and returned in 2014.[3]
2014First playoff victory
Matt Calvert scored in double overtime on April 19, 2014, to beat Pittsburgh 4–3 and secure Columbus’s first playoff win.[2]
2019Sweeping Tampa Bay
In the first round of the 2019 playoffs, Columbus swept top-seeded Tampa Bay.[3]
2026Coaching change
Rick Bowness became head coach in January 2026.[4]
Home arena
Nationwide Arena in downtown Columbus has hosted the Blue Jackets since their inaugural 2000–01 season. Its building also contains the Ice Haus practice rink.[3]
Related Organizations, Websites, and Public Accounts
Columbus Blue Jackets: Official website: https://www.nhl.com/bluejackets (opens in a new window)[5]
Columbus Blue Jackets: X: https://twitter.com/bluejacketsnhl (opens in a new window)[5]
Columbus Blue Jackets: YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is Google’s video-sharing and creator platform, founded in 2005 by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim and acquired by Google in 2006. Built around video uploading, viewing, and creator earnings, the platform has developed Shorts, YouTube Music, Premium, YouTube TV, and products for children, and is headquartered in San Bruno, California, United States.Open the full entry: https://www.youtube.com/bluejacketsnhl (opens in a new window)[5]
Sources
- This Week in History: November 11 (opens in a new window)
- 2016–17 Columbus Blue Jackets Media Guide (opens in a new window)
- Columbus Blue Jackets (opens in a new window)
- What to know about Rick Bowness taking over as Blue Jackets head coach (opens in a new window)
- Columbus Blue Jackets — official website (opens in a new window)