For this weekend’s NHL Saturday, it’s off to the Land of Insanity: Ohio. Why the NHL ever decided to give an NHL franchise to a city in Ohio not named Cincinnati or Cleveland is beyond us. And the Columbus Blue Jackets were born in 2000, and they’ve made the postseason just six times in their existence—making it out of the first round only twice (2019-2020). That’s a pretty dreary existence, especially when you see this list.

No. 10: Elvis Merzļikins, G—34 PS (2019-present)

If you’ve never heard of him, you’re not alone. However, he is a current player on the team with a lifetime 76-85-32 record for the BJs. A third rounder, he’s been the on-again, off-again starter in net for Columbus over the past six seasons. The career .903 save percentage is the nicest thing we can highlight in this space; however, his .946 save percentage in 122-plus minutes of playoff experience is a much more impressive stat.

No. 9: Boone Jenner, C—35 PS (2013-present)

A second-round pick, we’re not sure why he’s stuck with the team for so long (albeit injured right now): he’s not very good. His best season (6.0 PS) came in his age-22 season (2015-2016). He somehow made the All-Star team in 2024, despite posting just 35 points in 58 games overall. He has just 15 points in 37 career playoff games with the Blue Jackets, and this is his age-31 season right now. He’s not going to get any better.

No. 8: Nick Foligno, LW—35 PS (2012-2021)

The No. 28 pick overall, he joined Columbus for his age-25 season after spending five uninspiring seasons in Ottawa. He was an All Star in 2015, and he did win the Clancy and Messier trophies in 2017. Yet overall, he posted just 334 points in 599 regular-season games with the BJs. In the playoffs, he added just 16 points in 34 contests. His best season, by 3.8 PS, was that All-Star year when he somehow put up 9.7 PS overall.

No. 7: David Savard, D—36 PS (2011-2021)

A fourth rounder, he spent the first nine-plus seasons of his NHL career in Columbus, without achieving much. He did post three seasons over 6.0 PS (2015, 2017, 2019), but every other season was below 4.0 PS. Go figure. He never earned a vote for any award in the league; obviously, he never made an All-Star team, either. Perhaps for a fourth-round pick he has done just fine for himself, but it’s sad he’s on this list, too.

No. 6: Seth Jones, D—38 PS (2016-2021)

Finally, a BJs short timer on this list! A three-time All Star (2017, 2019-2020), he also finished in the Top 18 Norris vote four straight seasons (2017-2020) while playing for Columbus. Shocker, we know. This was a complete steal for the franchise, getting him halfway through his third NHL season and turning him into a top-line star (24:47 ATOI). He put up 29:52 ATOI across 31 playoff games, too, so you know he was puttin’ out.

No. 5: Marc Denis, G—47 PS (2000-2006)

Originally the No. 25 pick overall in the 1995 Draft, he ended up as the original starter in net for the BJs at age 23. It didn’t go well: twice, he led the NHL in losses (2003-2004), compiling an 84-146-25 record with the organization. The team never made the postseason with him, even though his .905 save percentage was somewhat respectable playing for a true expansion team. His 26.8 PS combined in 2003-2004 say a lot, yes?

No. 4: Cam Atkinson, RW—49 PS (2011-2021)

A sixth-round pick, it could be argued the BJs got some good value out of him: he made two All-Star teams (2017, 2019) and even earned some Hart votes in 2017. In the postseason, he managed to put up 26 points in 35 contests, which isn’t bad on a team like this one, historically speaking. In addition, the 17.7 combined PS total from those two All-Star campaigns demonstrate he provided significant return from that sixth round.

No. 3: Zach Werenski, D—57 PS (2016-present)

The No. 8 overall pick, he’s done fairly well on some mediocre teams: twice an All Star (2018, 2022) and twice a Top 18 Norris vote earner (2017, 2020). He even has a positive career plus/minus rating! He is peaking right now at age 27 with 7.1 PS already through just 25 games this season … it will be interesting to see where that number finalizes in April. He is at 26:03 ATOI right now, which would be a career-best mark.

No. 2: Rick Nash, LW—66 PS (2002-2012)

He was the No. 1 overall pick in 2002, showing that not every top guy is going to end up an all-time player. He did make five All-Star teams (2004, 2007-2009, 2011), though, while with the BJs, and he led the NHL in goals scored once (2004), too. Yet people would classify him as a disappointment, due to a mere 547 points in 674 games with the team. Only once, in 2009, did he reach double-digit PS value with Columbus. Ouch.

No. 1: Sergei Bobrovsky, G—75 PS (2012-2019)

Easily the best player in team history, he was stolen from another franchise after his first two NHL seasons and went on to win two Vezina votes with the BJs (2013, 2017). As an undrafted free agent, that’s something special. We also gave him our 2018 Vezina nod. His 213-130-27 record in net is incredible for a team like Columbus, and even his 11-16 record in the postseason is impressive. His 14.9 PS in 2017 topped the league.