By the time it's all said and done, Boone Jenner will go down as one of the greatest players to ever wear the Union Blue. The captain of the Columbus Blue Jackets is not only one of the best utility players in the entire NHL; he drives the identity for his team and leads them into battle on a nightly basis.
If we're ranking players based on their importance to this team, he's right near the top. Maybe just behind Norris Trophy runner-up Zach Werenski. Boone is the heart and soul of the Blue Jackets. On and off the ice, he leads the way. He's also their ambassador to the league, and an outspoken lover of Columbus and Central Ohio.
I won't say he's the perfect player, but for this team, he's' about as close as one can get. The 5th Line loves the heart and soul types; and he fits that mold. Heck, he might have created our love for it. Drafted by the organization in the second round of the 2011 NHL Draft, he's been here through three general managers, six head coaches (if you include this guy), and three complete rebuilds. He's played in five of the six postseasons this franchise has ever taken part in.
Boone owns the franchise record for games played (741), sits third all-time in goals (199), sixth in assists (184), fourth in points (383), and second in power-play goals (43). This is really impressive when you consider all of the ups and downs this organization has been through over the last dozen years. Quietly, he's been a consistent player and a leader for this team.
Hands down, the most important thing is his health. Last season, he was limited to just 26 games; scoring 7 goals and 19 points. A healthy Boone Jenner producing at that pace (roughly 60 points) easily makes this team a playoff contender. He would have smashed his career high in that category (49, 2015-16) had he played in all 82 games.
But, that's been the problem throughout his career. Boone's style of play doesn't allow him to take any shifts off. He goes to the hard areas of the offensive zone and competes. He's their net-front option on the power-play. He's one of the better forecheckers on the team. Meanwhile, he also kills penalties, blocks shots, and sticks up for his teammates.
For this team to have success, they need him in the lineup. His leadership skills are invaluable to this team, and it's hard to do that when he's not on the ice, the bench, or in the dressing room on a nightly basis. So, the hope here is that the new training staff brought on by Don Waddell can help get Boone (and others) into the lineup for a greater percentage of the season.
One bold prediction: Boone Jenner will play in 70 or more games this season.
The 70 game plateau has been an elusive one throughout Boone's career. This is a feat he hasn't accomplished since the 2019-20 season, which was stunted due to the pandemic. It's a mark he's eclipsed only six times in his twelve year career.
I'll take the over and say that this season will be different, however. The depth on the roster is going to get him into a more suitable middle-six role, meaning fewer minutes and better use of his skillset. The new staff is going to help him recoup and manage his health better. And, being a contract year, he's going to be driven to do everything he can to earn another contract so he can be a part of this team's quickly approaching brighter future.
Boone Jenner has given his all to the city of Columbus and the Blue Jackets. The least this organization can do is to reward him with a contract that keeps him here until he's ready to retire. At which point, he should remain a great ambassador for this franchise. He's earned the right to be the first player to spend the entirety of a long career here.