Columbus Blue Jackets
Ohio's NHL franchise, inspired by Civil War history.
The Columbus Blue Jackets, often called the Jackets, are a professional ice hockey team from Columbus, Ohio. They play in the National Hockey League’s Eastern Conference as part of the Metropolitan Division. The franchise joined the league as an expansion team in 2000.
The team struggled early on, not winning 30 games in a season until 2005–06. They made the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time in 2009 but were swept in the first round by the defending champion Detroit Red Wings. Columbus didn’t win a playoff game until 2014, when they faced the Pittsburgh Penguins. Their first playoff series victory came in 2019, when they swept the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round—the first time in NHL history that happened. Along with the Seattle Kraken (who started in 2021) and the Utah Mammoth (who started in 2024), the Blue Jackets are one of only three teams that have never reached a conference final.
The team’s name and logos draw from Ohio’s Civil War history. Their home games are played at Nationwide Arena in downtown Columbus, which opened in 2000. They are affiliated with the Cleveland Monsters of the American Hockey League.
Before the Blue Jackets, the last NHL team in Ohio was the Cleveland Barons, who played from 1976 to 1978. In Columbus, the Blue Jackets replaced the ECHL’s Columbus Chill, who played from 1991 to 1999 at the Ohio Expo Center Coliseum and set a minor league record with 83 straight sellouts.
In November 1996, five investors formed Columbus Hockey Limited, submitted an application, and paid a $100,000 fee to the NHL. Voters were considering a referendum to build a publicly funded arena, a key step for the NHL bid. Commissioner Gary Bettman visited Columbus and was told by civic leaders they wouldn’t pay for the team if the referendum failed. After the meeting, John H. McConnell privately guaranteed Bettman an arena would be built regardless. The referendum failed in May, but on May 31, 1997, Nationwide announced it would finance the $150-million arena. On June 25, 1997, the NHL awarded Columbus a franchise. A “Name the Team” contest, run with Wendy’s, drew 14,000 entries. With help from the NHL and owner McConnell’s input on Columbus history, the list was narrowed to two names: Blue Jackets and Justice. The former, referencing Ohio’s Civil War contributions, was announced in November.
- Founded
- 2000
- Division
- Metropolitan Division
- Conference
- Eastern Conference
- Home arena
- Nationwide Arena
- First playoff appearance
- 2009
- First playoff series win
- 2019
- Affiliate
- Cleveland Monsters (AHL)
Lore & Background
The Blue Jackets' name and logos are inspired by Ohio's Civil War history. The franchise replaced the Columbus Chill of the ECHL, who set a minor league hockey record by selling out 83 consecutive games at the Ohio Expo Center Coliseum. In November 1996, five investors formed Columbus Hockey Limited and submitted an application to the NHL. After a public referendum to build a publicly financed arena failed, Nationwide announced it would finance the $150-million arena, and the NHL awarded Columbus a franchise on June 25, 1997. A 'Name the Team' contest narrowed the list to Blue Jackets and Justice; the former was announced in November.
The team struggled in its initial years, failing to win 30 games in a season until 2005–06. The Blue Jackets qualified for the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time in 2009 but were swept by the defending champion Detroit Red Wings. They did not win a playoff game until the 2014 playoffs against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Their first playoff series victory came in 2019 against the Tampa Bay Lightning, making them the first team in NHL history to sweep the Presidents' Trophy winners in the first round.
Tragedy struck in March 2002 when 13-year-old Brittanie Cecil was killed after a deflected puck struck her in the head at Nationwide Arena. As a result, large nylon mesh nets were installed behind the goals in all NHL arenas. The team wore small red hearts with the initials 'BNC' on their helmets.
Reader's Guide
The Columbus Blue Jackets entered the NHL as an expansion team in 2000, bringing top-level professional hockey back to Ohio after the Cleveland Barons ceased play in 1978. Their early years were marked by struggle, finishing last in the Central Division for three consecutive seasons. The franchise's first star, Rick Nash, was selected first overall in the 2002 NHL entry draft and tied for the league lead in goals in 2003–04, winning the Maurice 'Rocket' Richard Trophy. The team's first playoff appearance in 2009 ended in a sweep, and it took until 2014 for the Blue Jackets to win their first playoff game. Their breakthrough came in 2019 when they swept the Presidents' Trophy-winning Tampa Bay Lightning, a feat unprecedented in NHL history. Despite this, the Blue Jackets remain one of only three active NHL franchises never to have reached a conference final. The team's identity is rooted in Ohio's Civil War heritage, reflected in their name and logos. They play at Nationwide Arena in downtown Columbus, which opened in 2000. The franchise also contributed to a league-wide safety change after a fan fatality in 2002, leading to the installation of protective netting behind goals in all NHL arenas.
Did You Know?
- The Blue Jackets are one of only three NHL teams never to have appeared in the conference finals.
- The death of 13-year-old Brittanie Cecil in 2002 led to the installation of protective nets behind goals in all NHL arenas.
- The team's name was chosen from a contest; the other finalist was 'Justice'.
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