Remember Them? Columbus Blue Jackets Players of Old

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Credit: Russell LaBounty-USA TODAY Sports

The Columbus Blue Jackets have now been playing hockey for fourteen seasons. The club is getting to the point where they have former players who are retired, playing in other leagues abroad or playing for other NHL teams. With the NHL season being as exciting as it is, it’s easy to forget about some of the former players, so we made a list of notable former Jackets players and reminisced about their time in Columbus and the NHL.

Lyle Odelein

Odelein was the first captain in Blue Jackets franchise history. He was named captain before the team’s first season, and served with the Jackets for their first two seasons. He was known for his fighting and sometimes dirty play, earning himself a grand total of 2,316 penalty minutes in 1,056 regular season NHL games.

He ended his playing career after playing only 27 games with the Pittsburgh Penguins and having to undergo career-ending knee surgery. Although he hasn’t played since 2006, according to the Hockey Hall of Fame, Odelein has not officially announced his retirement.

Check out a tribute to the Jackets’ first captain:

Ray Whitney and Mike Commodore

Ray Whitney was one of the original Blue Jackets players, playing with the club from their inauguration in 2000 through the 2002-03 season. Mike Commodore joined the team much later, being signed as a free agent in 2008. Both players are from Fort Saskatchewan, and they played together in Carolina in 2005-06. Whitney still holds the Blue Jackets record for most assists in one season with 52, points per game with .93 and assists per game with .63.

Former and future Blue Jackets Whitney and Commodore were part of the team that won the Carolina Hurricanes’ first-ever Stanley Cup. Check out that video here:

David Vyborny

David Vyborny was one of the original Jackets players, and During his time in Columbus he was a record-setting player. He set the franchise record for most consecutive games with 161, which still stands today. He was second only to Rostislav Klesla as the longest original Jackets player to continue playing for the club, leaving only to return to Europe in 2008.

Today, he trails only Rick Nash in Jackets history for most career games played, assists, points, shorthanded goals, goals created and game-winning goals.

Here are some highlights of Vyborny’s time in Columbus:

Jody Shelley

One of the original Blue Jackets, we all know where Shelley ended up. He’s the only original Jacket to come back and join the team’s media, and was promoted to analyst for Fox Sports Ohio for this upcoming season.

Until this past season, Shelley held the Blue Jackets record for most penalty minutes, and was surpassed only by Jared Boll this past season. Shelley was known as a bruiser, never one to shy away from a fight. Enjoy some of Jody’s fighting skills:

Credit: Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports