 The History of the Columbus Blue Jackets Part 2: Gathering the First Players
(Disclaimer: For those of you who might think it really did not happened this way...I am here to tell you, that sadly it did)
By the start of the year 2000, the club still does not have any players on its roster, but the NHL head honchos in New York are impressed that the franchise has met all the requirements for admission into the league which includes a hefty amount of season ticket sales. So after running out of hoops for the team to jump through, the league shrugs its shoulders and says, “Why not?” Cinderella is finally allowed to the Ball, and the Blue Jackets are free to officially participate in all NHL related matters.
Then on the first of May it happens, the answer to the great Jeopardy Trivia question becomes, “Who is Niagara University goaltender Greg Gardner?” The question of course is who is the first player ever signed by the Blue Jackets. The Great Gardner becomes the top goalie of the league in 2005-06. The only problem is that it’s for the German League. Sadly Gardner never plays a regular season game for the Blue Jackets’, which makes him an even more obscure trivia question.
After the excitement generated by Gardner, the Columbus front office starts to feel cocky, and seven days later they call up the New York Islander and offer their 4th and 9th pick in 2000 for Chris Nielsen. The Right Winger Nielsen rewards his new club with 6 exciting goals over 52 games. The Islander’s laugh all the way to the draft, thanking their newest trade buddies, and still unhappy with their lot in life send the 4th round pick to the Ducks.
On a roll now, the Blue Jackets set their sights on the Expansion Draft. Here they fare a little better, because face it; there was nowhere to go but up. The team spends its first three picks on goaltenders, with Rick Tabaracci being its first official pick from Colorado. Much later on in the draft they get Geoff Sanderson. Sanderson provides them with instant offense and scores 30 goals his first season with the club and gets 34 two seasons later. Because life is rather cruel when you are a Blue Jacket, Sanderson rejoins the club to start the 2005-06 season only to be traded two games later.
A day after the Expansion Draft, the franchise seals its first season fate with an under whelming Entry Draft. With the 4th overall selection, the team reaches for Rostislav Klesla. They pass over such players as Alexander Frolov, and are a pick or two short of being able to select Dipietro, Heatley, and Gaborik. The poor Klesla gets labeled the team worst first round pick ever.
But it’s done. Columbus has a team. Happily their executives congratulate each other, and await the start of their first season.
Last edited by Gotham Dark Knight : 03-31-2006 at 03:49 PM.
| 
03-30-2006, 11:48 PM
Linear Mode
