Columbus Blue Jackets All-Time Lineup

The 2000-01 season brought two new faces to the NHL, the Minnesota Wild and the Columbus Blue Jackets.  The past Jackets have not been blessed by obscene talent, so the All-Time list may be weaker than say… the Rangers.  So, take this with a grain of salt and also note that I DO NOT INCLUDE ANY NEW ADDITIONS to the Jackets team.  If they haven’t played an official game with the Jackets then they were not considered.

Forwards:

Rick Nash – Sergei Fedorov – David Vyborny

Fedorov was definitely the best center this team has seen and Vyborny was the most consistent wing until Nash emerged as the dominant player he is. 

Ray Whitney – Espen “Shampoo” Knutsen – Nik Zherdev

Whitney and “Poo” each put up some respectable numbers (at least once while a Jacket), and the enigmatic Zherdev really had a break-out season last year.

Geoff Sanderson – Michael Peca – Fredrik Modin

While we didn’t get the “prime” version of Peca, he is still the best checking center we’ve ever had – though he was often forced to play 2^ndcenter because of our lack of depth.  This would be a great depth line and would be a great shut-down line (if these players were all in their primes!)

Mike Sillinger – Andrew Cassels – Jody Shelly

Probably not a lot of sense or chemistry on this line, but Sillinger and Cassels were also great players that we once boasted, and Jody Shelly is THE definition of a 4^th line bruiser.

Defense:

Jan Hejda – Adam Foote

Best shut-down pair we’ve ever had – regardless of the way Foote left the team.

Jaroslav Spacek – Ron Hainsey

These two wouldn’t do a lot against the top lines of other teams, but they were the best offensive defensemen the Jackets have ever had.

Lyle Odelein – Bryan Berard

Had it not been for his back, Berard really could have contributed to the Jackets.  As for Odelein… he was our first captain, so he’s here as an honor.

Goalie:

Pascal Leclaire

For the first time ever, we’ve had a true number one goaltender!

Again, I didn’t include any of the newly acquired players – certainly Huselius would push somebody out of the forwards depth chart.  I’d also like to add that in 2 years this list will completely change.  I think that the future of the Blue Jackets is in the hands of Derick Brassard, Jakub Voracek, Filatov and our captain, Rick Nash.