![]() ![]() The Atlanta Thrashers and Nashville Predators both had their full rosters protected because they were the two newest teams, only being in existence for one and two years, respectively. Under the draft's rules, 26 of the NHL's active 28 teams were allowed to protect one goaltender, five defensemen, and nine forwards, or two goaltenders, three defensemen, and seven forwards. On June 23, 2000, the NHL's two newest teams, the Blue Jackets and the Minnesota Wild, took part in the 2000 NHL Expansion Draft in Calgary, Alberta. Subsequently, on June 25, 1997, the NHL announced that Columbus would receive a new franchise. However, Nationwide announced on May 31, 1997, that it would finance the $150-million arena. Nationwide Arena, the home of the Columbus Blue Jackets.Ĭolumbus's hopes for the bid dimmed when the May referendum failed. McConnell (one of those who entered the bid) privately guaranteed Bettman that an arena would be built, referendum or not. However, just after the meeting adjourned, John H. The civic leaders told Bettman that they would not be willing to foot the bill for the team if the referendum failed. When NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman visited Columbus to meet with the community's leaders about the franchise proposal, there was concern that the voters might not pass the needed referendum. The voters of Columbus were considering a referendum to build a publicly financed arena, a major step toward approval of their NHL bid. Columbus entered an expansion bid in 1997, along with several other cities. 1.1 Building a new franchise (1997–2000)įranchise history Building a new franchise (1997–2000)Īfter the Cleveland Barons left in 1978, Ohio's hockey fans had to wait 22 years to host another NHL team.The Blue Jackets play their home games in downtown Columbus at Nationwide Arena, which opened in 2000. Ken Hitchcock has been their coach since late 2006, and current general manager Scott Howson started in 2007. Rick Nash, David Vyborny, Ray Whitney, and Nikolai Zherdev are some of the prominent NHL figures to have donned a Columbus sweater. The Blue Jackets' name and logos are rooted in Ohio's rich Civil War history. In their seven seasons, they have never finished higher than third place in their division and are the only active NHL team to have never qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Preceded in Ohio's capital by the Columbus Chill of the ECHL, the Blue Jackets were founded as an expansion team in 2000. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League (NHL). The Columbus Blue Jackets are a professional ice hockey team based in Columbus, Ohio, United States. Union Blue, Goal Red, Capital Silver, White ![]()
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