Columbus Blue Jackets Greatest Players: #17 – Jared Boll
The Columbus Blue Jackets will be entering their 17th season as a NHL franchise this year, so we thought it’s about time we celebrate the 17 greatest Blue Jackets. This list won’t be filled with the best players per say, but rather the most impactful, durable, and lovable Jackets in our minds.
So without further ado, here is the 17th greatest Columbus Blue Jackets player in history…
#17 – Jared Boll (RW)
I suspect that there may be some disagreement from the readers. Hell, when I polled Lansing and Mike for their top 17 lists, Jared Boll wasn’t on either of them.
I agree that he’s not very good at the hockey thing. Alright, he pretty much stinks at it. But this list isn’t about being good. It’s about having an impact on the franchise, the city, and its fans while playing a good bit for the Blue Jackets. Jared Boll checks those boxes whether you like it or not.
Jared Boll is a goon; that is undeniable. But he was a leader and from all accounts, a pretty good guy while in Columbus. And he loves our city, so I can’t possibly hate the guy. He was basically our Doug Glatt.
Boll made his NHL debut in 2007 at the age of 21 after being drafted by the CBJ in 2005. In the 75 games he touched the ice for in his rookie season, he tallied 226 penalty minutes, the second-most in the league. This shouldn’t have surprised anyone considering he was the most-penalized player in the USHL in 2004-2005.
PREDICTION: Zach Werenski Primed for Sophomore Slump
Since his debut in ’07, big bad Boll has accumulated 1282 PIM. That’s pretty impressive by itself, but it’s even better when you factor in that he only has 4338 ice minutes in the NHL.
Most of those PIM came while wearing Union Blue. Boll was a member of the Jackets organization for 11 years until finally being bought out last summer. His comments post-buyout about loving the city, the franchise, and wanting to win summed up what every fan should want from a player.
Even after being bought out and signing with Anaheim, Boll’s toughness is something that has obviously rubbed off on this team. This is a gritty and hard-nosed (and sometimes dirty) team, and I’d like to think Boll is a reason for that.
Before we go, let’s look back at some of Jared Boll’s highlights with the Columbus Blue Jackets.