The Birth of the Columbus Blue Jackets
Before the 2000 NHL season, the Columbus Blue Jackets participated in an expansion draft alongside the Minnesota Wild to build their inaugural roster. This was a significant moment for the franchise, marking their entry into the NHL and setting the foundation for future development. The draft presented both teams with a pool of players from existing NHL teams, which they could choose from to form their rosters. However, the pool of available players was far from ideal, lacking the depth and skill level seen in later expansion drafts like that of the Vegas Golden Knights. As a result, both the Blue Jackets and the Wild emerged with rosters that were not highly competitive.
Draft Day and Initial Roster
The expansion draft was structured to give the Blue Jackets the first pick, followed by the Wild making two selections, then the Blue Jackets making two picks, and so on. Columbus kicked off the draft by selecting Rick Tabaracci, a goaltender, with their first pick. The Blue Jackets went on to select a total of three goaltenders, eight defensemen, and 15 forwards. Notable forwards included Kevyn Adams, Kevin Dineen, and Geoff Sanderson, while defensemen included Mathieu Schneider, Lyle Odelein, and Jonas Andersson-Junkka.
Trade Deals and Pre-Draft Negotiations
During the expansion draft, the Blue Jackets made several trades that, in hindsight, were questionable. They traded Jan Caloun, a ninth-round pick (Martin Paroulek) in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft, and a conditional pick in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft to San Jose in exchange for not selecting Evgeni Nabokov. Similarly, they traded Jean-Luc Grand-Pierre, Matt Davidson, and two fifth-round draft picks (Tyler Kolarik and Andreas Jamtin) to Buffalo in exchange for not selecting Dominik Hasek or Martin Biron. These deals effectively prevented the Blue Jackets from acquiring some of the more skilled goaltenders available, which would have significantly bolstered their roster.
Free Agency and Season One
Following the draft, the Blue Jackets entered free agency, where they faced some challenges. Several players they had selected in the expansion draft, including Dallas Drake, Mathieu Schneider, and Dwayne Roloson, signed with other teams before ever playing for the Blue Jackets. While there are theories that these players refused to play for Columbus, there is limited evidence to support this. Instead, it appears that they simply found better opportunities elsewhere. The Blue Jackets did manage to sign goaltender Ron Tugnutt, who had previously played for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Tugnutt would serve as the team’s starting goaltender for two seasons before being traded to the Dallas Stars.
The 2000 NHL Draft and Early Challenges
In the 2000 NHL Draft, the Blue Jackets had 11 picks to use, aiming to add young talent to their roster. Their first-round pick was Rostislav Klesla, a defenseman, followed by a mix of forwards, defensemen, and a goaltender in subsequent rounds. Despite these efforts, the Blue Jackets struggled in their first season, finishing with a record of 28-39-6 and placing last in their division. However, their poor performance in the first season had a silver lining, as it secured them the first overall pick in the next year’s draft. They used this pick to select Rick Nash, who quickly became the face of the franchise and a key figure in their early years.
Looking Ahead
The inaugural season of the Columbus Blue Jackets was a steep learning curve, filled with challenges and setbacks. However, the team’s resilience and the acquisition of Rick Nash in the 2001 draft laid the groundwork for future success. Despite the initial difficulties, the Blue Jackets began to build a foundation, laying the groundwork for a more competitive team in the years to come. The expansion draft and the subsequent trades and free agency moves, while not ideal, provided valuable lessons for the organization as it navigated its early years in the NHL.
