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Basic Guide for New Columbus Blue Jackets Fans: History of the CBJ

By William Espy

ST. LOUIS - OCTOBER 17: Ray Whitney #14 of the Columbus Blue Jackets listens to teammate Jaroslav Spacek #3 against the St. Louis Blues during the NHL game on October 17, 2002 at the Savvis Center in St. Louis, Missouri. The Blues won 7-1. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images/NHLI)
ST. LOUIS - OCTOBER 17: Ray Whitney #14 of the Columbus Blue Jackets listens to teammate Jaroslav Spacek #3 against the St. Louis Blues during the NHL game on October 17, 2002 at the Savvis Center in St. Louis, Missouri. The Blues won 7-1. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images/NHLI) /
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Columbus Blue Jackets
2000 Columbus Blue Jackets Season: Doug MacLean. (Photo by John Giamundo/Getty Images) /

The Columbus Blue Jackets are a team on the rise and with an abundance of incoming fans, the New Year is a perfect time to introduce them to the team.

The Columbus Blue Jackets don’t have the history of a team like the Montreal Canadiens or Toronto Maple Leafs considering they’ve only been in the league for 19 years at this point. That doesn’t mean however that they don’t have an interesting history and it also means there’s a chance for the future to write the team’s legacy.

Below is a brief version of the Jackets history for those new fans out there looking for a 30,000 foot view at what has happened. Much of it isn’t pretty making the last few years of success that much more enjoyable.

All trade information from NHL Trade Tracker and season information is from Hockey-Reference.

The Doug MacLean Era

Doug MacLean was the first general manager of the Columbus Blue Jackets and was in charge of the expansion draft ahead of the 2000-2001 season. MacLean had previously served as head coach of the Florida Panthers prior to being hired as the GM of the expansion Blue Jackets. He hired Dave King as the first head coach in franchise history.

Columbus Blue Jackets
Columbus Blue Jackets /

Columbus Blue Jackets

Lyle Odelein would be named the first captain in Blue Jackets history and would serve as captain for two seasons before being replaced by Ray Whitney at the start of the 2002-2003 season according to Hockey Reference. The first overall pick of the 2002 NHL Draft belonged to the Columbus Blue Jackets and they picked future superstar Rick Nash who would be the face of the franchise in coming years.

The 2002-2003 season would also mark the end of David King’s run with the Columbus Blue Jackets after two full losing seasons and a slow start to the third season. Doug MacLean would name himself as King’s successor. Eventually during the 2003-2004 season, MacLean would name Gerard Gallant the head coach.

The 2003-2004 season also marked the third captaincy of the Blue Jackets with Luke Richardson becoming captain. At the end of the season, Rick Nash would make Blue Jackets history by being the first, and only to this point, player from the team to win the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy for leading the NHL in goals.

The 2004-2005 season would be missed league-wide due to a dispute between the NHL and NHL players union, the NHLPA. After the lockout however, the Blue Jackets would make a seemingly franchise changing signing. On August 1st, 2005, a day which haunts Blue Jackets fans looking back at it, Doug MacLean announced the signing of star defenseman Adam Foote from free agency.

Toward the end of the 2005-2006 season, Foote would be named captain when current captain Luke Richardson was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 2006-2007 season would mark the end of Gerard Gallant’s run as head coach, he would be replaced by Ken Hitchcock who took over following a five game stint from Gary Agnew who was the interim head coach following Gallant’s release.

April 19th, 2007 would mark the end of the Doug MacLean era as he would be fired by the organization.

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