Editing Columbus Blue Jackets (section)

===Building a new franchise (1997–2000)===
Prior to the establishment of the Blue Jackets, the last NHL team in the state of Ohio was the [[Cleveland Barons (NHL)|Cleveland Barons]], who played from 1976 to 1978. In Columbus, the Blue Jackets replaced the [[Columbus Chill]] of the [[ECHL]], who played in the city from 1991 to 1999. The Chill played at the [[Ohio Expo Center Coliseum]], where they set a [[minor league hockey]] record by selling out 83 consecutive games.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bluejackets.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=48240|title=Columbus Hockey History|access-date=January 5, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141214221218/http://bluejackets.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=48240|archive-date=December 14, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In November 1996, five investors formed a partnership called Columbus Hockey Limited, who then submitted an application and a $100,000 fee to the NHL office.<ref name="CBJ Hist" /> The voters of Columbus were considering a referendum to build a publicly financed arena, a major step toward approval of their NHL bid.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/VA-news/VA-Pilot/issues/1997/vp970114/01140201.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20081205174510/http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/VA-news/VA-Pilot/issues/1997/vp970114/01140201.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 5, 2008 |title=With Arena Deal in Hand, Underdog Shinn May Have An Advantage |newspaper=The Virginian-Pilot |last=Minium |first=Harry |date=January 14, 1997 |access-date=May 20, 2008}}</ref> When League 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 civic leaders told Bettman that they would not be willing to foot the bill for the team if the referendum failed. However, just after the meeting adjourned, [[John H. McConnell]] (one of those who entered the bid) privately guaranteed Bettman that an arena would be built, referendum or not.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/2008-05-07-2296661618_x.htm|title=Public memorial honors Blue Jackets owner McConnell|agency=Associated Press|last=Miller|first=Rusty|date=May 7, 2008|access-date=June 19, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081024012011/http://www.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/2008-05-07-2296661618_x.htm|archive-date=October 24, 2008|url-status=live}}</ref>

Columbus' hopes for the bid dimmed when the May referendum failed. However, [[Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company|Nationwide]] announced on May 31, 1997, that it would finance the $150-million arena. Subsequently, on June 25, 1997, the NHL announced that Columbus would receive a new franchise.<ref name="CBJ Hist" /> Afterwards a "Name the Team" contest was held with the help of [[Wendy's]] throughout central Ohio during the month of August 1997. The franchise received 14,000 entries and, with help from the NHL, narrowed the list down to 10 names. Then, with the information received from owner McConnell regarding Columbus' history, the league and the franchise narrowed the list of potential names down to two – Blue Jackets and Justice. The former, which referenced Ohio's contributions to the [[American Civil War]], was eventually announced as the team name in November.<ref name="CBJName" />

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]]. Under the draft's rules, 26 of the NHL's active 28 teams were allowed to protect one [[goaltender]], five [[Defenceman|defensemen]], and nine [[Forward (ice hockey)|forwards]], or two goaltenders, three defensemen, and seven forwards. 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. Both the Blue Jackets and Wild had to use their first 24 selections on three goaltenders, eight defensemen, and thirteen forwards. Their final two picks could be players of any position.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://static.espn.go.com/nhl/s/2000/0613/582541.html|title=The ins and outs of the Expansion Draft|publisher=ESPN|date=June 13, 2000|access-date=June 19, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904080742/http://static.espn.go.com/nhl/s/2000/0613/582541.html|archive-date=September 4, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

With the first-overall choice, the Blue Jackets selected goaltender [[Rick Tabaracci]] from the [[Colorado Avalanche]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://static.espn.go.com/nhl/s/2000/0623/600646.html|title=Blue Jackets fill roster in expansion draft|publisher=ESPN|date=June 23, 2000|access-date=June 19, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150219064319/http://static.espn.go.com/nhl/s/2000/0623/600646.html|archive-date=February 19, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> Over the course of the draft, Columbus picked up goaltender [[Dwayne Roloson]], defensemen [[Lyle Odelein]] and [[Mathieu Schneider]], and forwards [[Geoff Sanderson]], [[Turner Stevenson]] and [[Dallas Drake]], among others.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/shn/00exstory.htm|title=Blue Jackets, Wild stock rosters, deal|agency=Associated Press|date=June 24, 2000|access-date=June 19, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081024012027/http://www.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/shn/00exstory.htm|archive-date=October 24, 2008|url-status=live}}</ref> Instead of joining Columbus, Roloson signed with the [[American Hockey League]]'s [[Worcester IceCats]],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.dispatch.com/story/sports/nhl/columbus-blue-jackets/2011/05/15/eastward-bound/24007629007/|title=Eastward Bound?|newspaper=The Columbus Dispatch|date=May 15, 2011|accessdate=June 1, 2024}}</ref> Schneider left for the [[Los Angeles Kings]],<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/news/story?id=690004|title=A Closer Look: Los Angeles Kings|publisher=ESPN|last=Shactman|first=Brian A.|date=August 18, 2000|access-date=June 19, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150219064622/http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=690004|archive-date=February 19, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> and the [[St. Louis Blues]] signed Drake.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Greuel |first1=Adam |title=Dallas Drake Announces Retirement from the NHL |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/37976-dallas-drake-announces-retirement-from-the-nhl |website=Bleacher Report |access-date=November 15, 2019}}</ref> Columbus also traded Stevenson to the [[New Jersey Devils]] to complete an earlier transaction.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0CE5D61730F937A15755C0A9669C8B63|title=In Expansion Draft, Devils Emerge With a Gain of One|work=The New York Times|last=Lapointe|first=Joe|date=June 24, 2000|access-date=June 19, 2008}}</ref>

The Blue Jackets and Wild were granted concessions by some franchises who could not protect their full rosters. The [[San Jose Sharks]] traded [[Jan Čaloun|Jan Caloun]], a ninth-round pick in the [[2000 NHL entry draft]], and a [[2001 NHL entry draft|2001]] conditional pick to Columbus;<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/blue-jackets-sign-caloun-nummelin-1.203681|title=Blue Jackets sign Caloun, Nummelin|publisher=CBC Sports|date=November 10, 2000|access-date=June 19, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090116092708/http://www.cbc.ca/sports/story/2000/07/25/columbus000725.html|archive-date=January 16, 2009|url-status=live}}</ref> in return, the Blue Jackets agreed not to select the Sharks' unprotected [[goaltender]] [[Evgeni Nabokov]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-7269281_ITM|title=Sharks protect goaltender from expansion teams|work=San Jose Mercury News|last=Chi|first=Victor|date=June 12, 2000|access-date=June 19, 2008}}</ref> On June 24, at the 2000 NHL entry draft, Columbus selected [[Rostislav Klesla]] fourth overall.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2000 Entry Draft |publisher=National Hockey League |url=http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/draft/nhl2000e.html |access-date=June 1, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080513010017/http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/draft/nhl2000e.html |archive-date=May 13, 2008}}</ref>