Columbus Blue Jackets: Cam Atkinson Chasing Franchise Records

Cam Atkinson now has the most hat tricks in Columbus Blue Jackets history and is climbing quickly in several other franchise records.

Much of the Columbus Blue Jackets record book has been written by Rick Nash. The former number one overall pick owns most of the franchises offensive records. But Cam Atkinson is chasing him down quickly and just took the top spot in one category.

With his fifth hat trick as a Jacket against the Carolina Hurricanes, Cam has tied Nash as the franchise’s leader in three goal game performances. He is a great scorer and shows no sign of slowing down. This record will soon be his along.

The third goal agains the Canes was Atkinson’s 157th as a Blue Jacket. That’s good for second all time behind Nash who has 297. Up to this point Cam is averaging 25 goals per season with the Jackets. He is well beyond that pace but we’ll use that number for our projections. If he averages 25 goals per season, he will eclipse Nash sometime in the 2023-2024 season. I think its safe to say though that he is going to break the 30 goal mark this season and at least two other seasons in his career so the franchise goal mark is well within his grasp.

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And he might even break the 40 goal mark which would put him in position to take Nash’s franchise record for goals in a season. Currently Nash owns the top three highest seasons with 41 in 03-04, 40 in 08-09, and 38 in 07-08. Cam has the fourth highest total with 35 in 15-16. Currently Cam is on pace to score 51 goals which he will likely not hit but he is off to a great start if he wants to take down Nash’s record.

The really interesting record that Cam might have a shot to take down is points as a Columbus Blue Jacket. Nash set the bar with 547 points in his time as a Jacket. Cam is currently sitting at 293 points so just over half way to Nash’s mark. At Cam’s current pace he would have to play 402 more games at a .63 point per game pace. Thats almost five full seasons which is doable.

Cam has 32 game winning goals compared to Nash’s 44. That record should go down sometime next season. Same with the shorthanded goal record that Nash holds with 14. Cam has nine currently.

Barring a freak injury Cam will break the games played record of 674 sometime in the 2021-2022 season. That is also barring work stoppage which, well, you know.

Cam Atkinson is longest tenured member of the Columbus Blue Jackets and he isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. He has six years left on his deal after 2019 which gives him plenty of time to continue to rewrite the CBJ record book.