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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
COLUMBUS, OH – DECEMBER 28: Columbus Blue Jackets General Manager Scott Howson ponders a question from a reporter during a press conference announcing the trading of Jason Chimera to the Washington Capitals on December 28, 2009 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/NHLI via Getty Images) /

The Jim Clark and Scott Howson Eras

Following the firing of Doug MacLean, Jim Clark would temporarily be the interim general manager while the team searched for the permanent replacement. He didn’t do much, however he did trade away an unsigned draft pick in Adam McQuaid for a draft pick according to NHLTradeTracker.

Scott Howson would be hired prior to the 2007-2008 season which would be the Blue Jackets most successful season to date at that point in time. However, the team had yet to even make it to the post-season. Howson would also trade away the infamous Adam Foote in 2008.

The playoff drought would come to an end in the 2008-2009 season, as the team would make the playoffs for the first team in franchise history and would be matched up against the Detroit Red Wings in the first round. They would eventually be swept, losing all four games of the series, however it was a step in the right direction for the young team.

The 2009-2010 season would be a return to the prior bad habits and another failed season which would result in the departure of Ken Hitchcock. Hitchcock would temporarily be replaced by Claude Noel for the remainder of the season.

Noel would then be replaced by Scott Arniel to begin the 2010-2011 season, however the coaching change wouldn’t be enough to propel the Blue Jackets back to the playoffs and he wouldn’t even finish the 2011-2012 season as their head coach. Todd Richards would replace him permanently, taking over in the middle of the season.

The 2011-2012 season also featured the Jeff Carter debacle, which resulted in the Blue Jackets essentially turning former first round pick Jakub Voracek and two picks into Jack Johnson and a pick in the long run.

Following the 2012 season, Howson would be on a short leash. However, that season would also mark the beginning of the current Blue Jackets roster. Howson acquired players like Sergei Bobrovsky and Nick Foligno as well as traded Rick Nash.

In the middle of the 2012-2013 season, Howson would be fired and replaced by current Columbus Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen.

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