Columbus Blue Jackets: The Writers’ Favorite Players

Lansing Murphy – Matt Calvert

My favorite Columbus Blue Jacket has to be Matt Calvert. The longest tenured Jacket embodies what I think we all want to see in our favorite athletes.

Calvert punches above his weight and throws himself into the corners to fight for pucks constantly and is an incredible penatly killer. Not only does he kill penalties with the best of ’em, he creates offense during 4-on-5 situations. He led the team last year in short handed goals.

Calvert does whatever the team ask him to do and he does it exceptionally. He is never going to score 20 goals or put up 50 points but he is invaluable to the Jackets.

Plus, no Jacket fan will ever forget his performance against the New York Rangers last November. Taking a puck right off the forehead, blood everywhere, he left the game. No one thought he would return but after some stitches, the warrior returned. Not only did he return, he scored a shorthanded goal that turned out to be the game winner.

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That game cemented Calvert as my favorite Jacket and he will forever be beloved by this city.