Editing Columbus Blue Jackets (section)

===Early years (2000–2005)===
The Blue Jackets played their first regular season game on October 7, 2000, a 5–3 loss to the [[Chicago Blackhawks]]. [[Bruce Gardiner]] scored the franchise's first goal.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.hhof.com/html/exSCJ_31.shtml |title=Stanley Cup Journal: 31 |publisher=HHOF |last=Shea |first=Kevin |date=August 18, 2003 |access-date=June 19, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101203215936/http://www.hhof.com/html/exSCJ_31.shtml |archive-date=December 3, 2010}}</ref> Columbus finished with a 28–39–9–6 record for 71 points, last in the Central Division, and failed to qualify for the [[2001 Stanley Cup playoffs|playoffs]].<ref name="MacLean">{{Cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/blue-jackets-fire-maclean-as-president-gm-1.655403|title=Blue Jackets fire MacLean as president, GM|publisher=CBC Sports|date=April 19, 2007|access-date=June 20, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090116080555/http://www.cbc.ca/canada/prince-edward-island/story/2007/04/19/mclean-fired-jackets.html|archive-date=January 16, 2009|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Geoff Sanderson]] became the first player in team history to score 30 goals. [[Ron Tugnutt]], who was signed in the summer of 2000, supplied solid goaltending with 22 wins, which tied the 74-year-old NHL record for wins by an expansion-team goaltender ([[New York Rangers]]' [[Lorne Chabot]] also had 22 wins in [[1926–27 NHL season|1926–27]]).<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/hockey/nhl/2001/features/preview/bluejackets|title=SI's 2001–02 NHL Team Previews: Blue Jackets|magazine=Sports Illustrated|last=Beech|first=Mark|date=October 8, 2001|access-date=June 19, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207232310/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/hockey/nhl/2001/features/preview/bluejackets/|archive-date=December 7, 2008|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Doug MacLean.jpg|thumb|left|[[Doug MacLean]] was the general manager for the Blue Jackets from 1998 to 2007, and head coach from 2002 to 2004.]]
The Blue Jackets finished next-to-last in the NHL in the [[2001–02 NHL season|following season]], with only 57 points.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/leagues/seasons/nhl19272002.html|title=2001–02 National Hockey League (NHL) standings|access-date=June 19, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080531111601/http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/leagues/seasons/nhl19272002.html|archive-date=May 31, 2008}}</ref> [[Ray Whitney (ice hockey)|Ray Whitney]], acquired from the [[Florida Panthers]] the previous season, led the team in scoring with 61 points, setting a franchise record.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/hockey/news/2002/09/13/jackets_camp_ap/|title=New Faces Give Fresh Hope to Blue Jackets in Third Season|agency=Associated Press|date=September 13, 2002|access-date=June 3, 2008|archive-date=July 16, 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120716215109/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/hockey/news/2002/09/13/jackets_camp_ap/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Tragedy struck the Blue Jackets organization in March 2002 when 13-year-old [[Death of Brittanie Cecil|Brittanie Cecil]] was killed after a deflected puck shot by [[Espen Knutsen]] struck her in the head while she was in the stands at [[Nationwide Arena]]. As a result of her death, large nylon mesh nets were installed behind the goals in all NHL arenas to shield spectators from pucks going over the glass.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-8814635_ITM|title=NHL Teams to Install Netting Around Each Goal to Prevent Fan Injuries|work=Chicago Tribune|last=Foltman|first=Bob|date=June 20, 2002|access-date=June 3, 2008}}</ref> The team also wore small red hearts with the initials "BNC" on their helmets.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://static.espn.go.com/nhl/news/2002/0322/1356049.html|title=Family, Blue Jackets honor Brittanie Cecil at Funeral|agency=Associated Press|date=March 24, 2002|access-date=June 3, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711152421/http://static.espn.go.com/nhl/news/2002/0322/1356049.html|archive-date=July 11, 2011|url-status=live}}</ref>

During the off-season, the Blue Jackets traded a second-round draft pick (32nd overall) and Ron Tugnutt to the [[Dallas Stars]] in exchange for Dallas' first-round pick (20th overall) in the [[2002 NHL entry draft]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-8814204_ITM|title=Stars Get Veteran Tugnutt in Trade|work=The Dallas Morning News|last=Carlton|first=Chuck|date=June 18, 2002|access-date=June 3, 2008}}</ref> On the morning of the draft, Columbus traded the third-overall pick and the option to flip draft spots in [[2003 NHL entry draft|2003]] to the [[Florida Panthers]]; in return, Columbus received the first-overall pick, which they used to select [[Rick Nash]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Heinen|first=Laurence|title=Consensus top pick drops to third|url=http://www.hockeysfuture.com/articles/4692/consensus_top_pick_drops_to_third/|date=June 22, 2002|access-date=June 3, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081206093736/http://www.hockeysfuture.com/articles/4692/consensus_top_pick_drops_to_third/|archive-date=December 6, 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The [[2002–03 NHL season|2002–03 season]] started with Columbus putting up a 7–5–1–1 record after the first 14 games.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Columbus Blue Jackets 2003–04 Schedule|publisher=ESPN|url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/team/schedule/_/name/cbj/columbus-blue-jackets|access-date=June 3, 2008}}</ref> However, as expectations from their fans grew higher, the team came back to mediocrity, finishing last in the Central Division for the third consecutive season with 69 points and missing the playoffs once again.<ref>{{Cite web|title=2002–03 Standings |publisher=National Hockey League |url=https://www.nhl.com/standings/2002 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305204239/https://www.nhl.com/standings/2002 |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 5, 2016 |access-date=June 16, 2008}}</ref> [[Dave King (hockey)|Dave King]], who had been the team's head coach since their debut in 2000, was fired mid-season and replaced by general manager [[Doug MacLean]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2000/07/05/sports/main212255.shtml|title=Blue Jackets Hire King as Coach, Dave King Becomes Team's First Coach|agency=Associated Press|date=July 5, 2000|access-date=June 2, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081023021242/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2000/07/05/sports/main212255.shtml|archive-date=October 23, 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/columns/story?id=1698336|title=Mediocre would be improvement|publisher=ESPN|last=Burnside|first=Scott|date=January 4, 2004|access-date=June 2, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050429194000/http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/columns/story?id=1698336|archive-date=April 29, 2005|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Marc Denis]] was named starting goaltender; he played a franchise-record 77 games that season and set a league record with 4,511 minutes played in 2002–03. He tied for second all-time for games played in a season by a goaltender, just two shy of the league record held by [[St. Louis Blues]]' [[Grant Fuhr]] in the [[1995–96 NHL season|1995–96 season]].<ref name="Denis">{{cite web |title=Garon contre un détenteur de record |url=https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/133213/bjacketshabsavantmatch |website=Radio-Canada |access-date=November 22, 2023 |date=November 11, 2003}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/2003-06-11-hall-of-fame_x.htm|title=Fuhr, LaFontaine picked for Hockey Hall of Fame|work=USA Today|last=Gannam|first=Tom|date=June 12, 2003|access-date=June 16, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081206095915/http://www.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/2003-06-11-hall-of-fame_x.htm|archive-date=December 6, 2008|url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[2003–04 NHL season|2003–04 season]] was another losing season for the Blue Jackets despite key additions in the off-season. Checking center [[Todd Marchant]] was signed to a five-year contract in July from the [[Edmonton Oilers]].<ref>{{Cite news|title=Mighty Ducks Acquire Center Marchant from Columbus|publisher=ESPN|date=November 21, 2005|url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/news/story?id=2232121|access-date=July 24, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150219064706/http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=2232121|archive-date=February 19, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> Defenseman [[Darryl Sydor]], known to play strong offense as well, was acquired from the Dallas Stars for [[Mike Sillinger]] and a draft pick. MacLean stepped aside as head coach midway through the season, giving way to [[Gerard Gallant]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/nhl/jackets/2004-01-01-mclean-resigns_x.htm|title=MacLean Resigns as Blue Jackets Coach, Remains GM|agency=Associated Press|date=January 1, 2004|access-date=June 3, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081024012022/http://www.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/nhl/jackets/2004-01-01-mclean-resigns_x.htm|archive-date=October 24, 2008|url-status=live}}</ref> The Blue Jackets finished with just 62 points (the second-lowest total in their short history), but it was enough to help them break out of last place in the Central Division for the first time, finishing ahead of the [[Chicago Blackhawks]]. Nash was one of the few bright spots for the team; his 41 goals tied [[Jarome Iginla]] and [[Ilya Kovalchuk]] for the [[Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy]] (as League leader in goals scored).<ref name="Richard">{{Cite news|url=http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/4664395/|title=Richard Trophy winners|agency=Associated Press|date=April 4, 2004|access-date=June 18, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081023021524/http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/4664395/|archive-date=October 23, 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In the 2004 off-season, the [[National Hockey League Players' Association|NHL Players' Association]] (NHLPA) and NHL administration failed to renew their [[NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement|collective bargaining agreement]]. September 14, 2004, marked the beginning of the [[2004–05 NHL lockout|lockout]] of the [[2004–05 NHL season|2004–05 season]]. No games were played and the [[Stanley Cup]] was not awarded for the first time since the [[1918 flu pandemic|flu epidemic of 1919]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sptimes.com/2004/06/05/Lightning/Injuries_sideline_pla.shtml|title=Injuries sideline players only rarely|newspaper=St. Petersburg Times|last=Brink|first=Graham|date=June 5, 2004|access-date=June 17, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090111001956/http://www.sptimes.com/2004/06/05/Lightning/Injuries_sideline_pla.shtml|archive-date=January 11, 2009|url-status=live}}</ref> An agreement was made on July 13, 2005, and the lockout officially ended nine days later on July 22, 2005.