The Randomizer has spoken. Today’s selection is Colton Gillies.
Claimed off waivers from Minnesota in January of 2012, Colton Gillies brought his physical style of play to the Blue Jackets. The 2012-2013 season would be his final in the NHL. He would finish his hockey career overseas.
The Randomizer has spoken. Today’s entry is Luca Pinelli.
A fourth round pick by the Blue Jackets in 2023, Luca Pinelli had a productive AHL campaign last season that also earned him a 3 game call-up to the NHL. We’ll be seeing him again soon.
The Randomizer has spoken. Today’s entry is Steve Mason.
The 2008-2009 season would be the first time ever the Blue Jackets made the playoffs, largely in part to Steve Mason’s magical rookie season. With an injury to Pascal Leclaire, Steve Mason was called up to the NHL after playing only 3 career AHL games. And the rest is history. A third round pick in 2006, Mason eventually became the starting goalie for the Jackets. He recorded TEN shutouts and propelled the Jackets to a playoff appearance against Detroit. He would easily win the Calder Memorial Trophy as the rookie of the year.
While Steve Mason was unable to consistently produce at the level he did in his rookie season, he still had a respectable NHL career. The Blue Jackets traded Mason to Philadelphia for Michael Leighton and a third round pick on April 3, 2013.
I will always cherish the 2008-2009 season. I was going through some stuff in my personal life back then and watching the Blue Jackets was my escape.
The Randomizer has spoken. Today’s selection is Sergei Bobrovsky.
Whatever I’m going to say about Sergei Bobrovsky is not going to be enough. He is the greatest goaltender in the history of the Blue Jackets and has two Vezina trophies to prove it. Acquired from the Flyers in 2012 for draft picks, Bobrovsky immediately stepped into the starting role and solidified the goaltending position for seven seasons. It was with the Blue Jackets that Bobrovsky showcased his extraordinary skills to the entire world. Like in 2016-2017, when he recorded a .931 save percentage in 63 games and a GAA of 2.06. He was nothing short of incredible. Unfortunately for us, we let him go in free agency and he signed with the Panthers in 2019, leading Florida to 2 Stanley Cups. Currently with the Toronto Maple Leafs and with 456 career wins and counting, we’ll see him in the Hall of Fame someday. Officer Bob, the best damn cop on the force.
Some of my favorite highlights.
https://youtu.be/9yrVLqzEwpw?is=skZXJFDWXn2IlTNL
https://youtu.be/qVBlisbFl8k?is=0QeR2SolV73mmDVE
https://youtu.be/Vt4evmM1Zmw?is=vB0wKDXxUtvqFVm3
The Randomizer has spoken. Today’s selection is Tyler Wright.
Those of us that remember ye olden days will remember Tyler Wright, who was selected from the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2000 Expansion Draft. He was a huge ball of energy whenever he took the ice, body checking and being a pest to opposing players. He also had THREE hat tricks while playing for the Blue Jackets. In November 2005 he would be packaged with Francois Beauchemin to Anaheim for Sergei Fedorov and a draft pick. As a young kid in elementary school, I always found him fun to watch.
And I’ll always remember him being part of that brawl against the Rangers (also John Davidson commentating!) https://youtu.be/9QXqN-hvcY4?is=NX_gS_iQKE3h2t2r
The Randomizer has spoken. Today’s selection is Marian Gaborik.
Slovakian superstar Marian Gaborik was the first player ever chosen by the Minnesota Wild during the 2000 NHL draft, going third overall. He would also score the franchise’s first ever goal. After putting up fantastic scoring seasons through 2008-2009, Gaborik went on to play for the New York Rangers. A blockbuster trade would send him and two prospects to the Blue Jackets on 04/03/2013 in exchange for Derick Brassard, Derek Dorsett, John Moore and a draft pick. Gaborik’s time in Columbus would last less than a year. In March of 2014 he would be traded to the Los Angeles Kings for Matt Frattin and draft picks, winning the Stanley Cup with LA a few months later.
Also this.
The Randomizer has spoken. Today’s selection is Andrej Nedorost.
A 9th round pick of the Blue Jackets in 2000, Nedorost played primarily with the Syracuse Crunch of the AHL. He played 28 total games with the Blue Jackets from the 2001-2002 - 2003-2004 seasons. He did a tour of multiple European teams the rest of his career.
The Randomizer has spoken. Today’s selection is Dalton Prout.
Big bruising blueliner Dalton Prout was drafted by the Blue Jackets in the 6th round of the 2010 draft. He was a player the Jackets could rely on to play physically and drop the gloves when needed, playing 224 games with the team from 2011-2012 to 2016-2017. In March of 2017 he was traded to New Jersey for Kyle Quincey.
The Randomizer has spoken. Today’s entry is Kris Beech.
Kris Beech had somewhat of a strange NHL career. A highly touted prospect in the 1999 draft, Beech went 7th overall to the Washington Capitals. In 2001 he would be traded to the Penguins in Pittsburgh’s infamous Jaromir Jagr trade. Bouncing around from the AHL and NHL (including a trip back to Washington) for some years, Beech signed with the Blue Jackets as a free agent in 2007. In January of 2008 he would be claimed off waivers by the Canucks, then claimed off waivers by Washington (his third time with the organization), and once again claimed off waivers by Pittsburgh (his second time with them), in total being part of 4 NHL organizations in one month. He would then have a lengthy career in Europe until 2016.
The Randomizer has spoken. Today’s entry is Blake Bellefeuille.
Bellefeuille played mostly in the AHL and ECHL in his professional career from 2000-2008. A free agent signing by the Blue Jackets in 2000, he played in 2 games during the 2001-2002 season and 3 games in the 2002-2003 season.
I haven’t listened in several months but Jeffrey still lives rent-free in my head.
Whenever my wife and I agree on something I respond with the “yaaa shore” or if she asks me a question I say “I could go for some popcorn chicken right now.” Those phrases are as much a part of me as my fingers are on my hand.
Yesterday we were talking about Jeffrey trying to pronounce the “susahakwanana” River in Pennsylvania.
We also randomly sing Taintsmasher parodies.
So even though we don’t really listen anymore, this show has been a permanent influence on us.
What are some of your favorite Jeffrey related things?
The Randomizer has spoken. Today’s selection is Cody Bass.
Mostly an AHL enforcer from the 2005-2006 -2019-2020 seasons, Bass played several games for the Ottawa Senators before coming to Columbus as a free agent in 2011. He would appear in 15 games for the Blue Jackets. He later played in 26 games for the Nashville Predators
The randomizer has spoken. Today’s selection is Brian Boucher.
Did you know Brian Boucher played for the Blue Jackets? Well, he sure did. Acquired on waivers from the Chicago Blackhawks on 02/27/2007, Boucher played in 3 games for the Jackets that season. In his 3 stints with Philadelphia, he is best remembered for his tag-team performance with Michael Leighton during Philly’s 0-3 comeback series win against Boston and seeing action in the 2010 Finals against Chicago. Today, he is a broadcaster on TNT.
Whenever I play Tiberian Dawn or as the Soviets in Red Alert, I always send wounded infantry back to base. Cause I feel bad if they die.
The Randomizer has spoken. Today’s entry is Chris Gratton.
An underrated power forward of the 90’s and early 00’s, Chris Gratton made a name for himself with his physical style of play and offensive contribution. During his third stint with the Tampa Bay Lighting, he was acquired by the Blue Jackets off waivers to bolster the roster for the 2008-2009 playoff run. This would be the last stop of his NHL career.
The Randomizer has spoken. Today’s selection is Luke Adam.
A second round pick by Buffalo in 2008, Luke Adam shuttled between the NHL and AHL from 2009 to 2015. He was traded by Buffalo to Columbus for Jerry D’Amigo in 2014. He later played in Europe and the ECHL, retiring in June of 2026.
The randomizer has spoken. Today’s selection is Adam Fantilli.
Adam Fantastic Fantilli. What a joy he is to watch on the ice. Whether he’s putting up hat tricks or setting up teammates with assists, he seems to do it all offensively. A first round pick in 2023 and still only 21, he has increased his production in each season he’s played. Let’s get that deal done!
As a Russian person I like to call him Fantillov from when he played on the same line as Marchenko and Voronkov.
The randomizer has spoken. Today’s entry is Sean Kuraly.
Ohio-born Sean Kuraly brought some grit to his home town team when he signed as a free agent from Boston in 2021. A reliable penalty killer and grinder, Kuraly’s chippy play was witnessed by Blue Jackets fans for 4 seasons. He returned to Boston in 2025 as a free agent.
Tell me your favorite Sean Kuraly moments!
You guys like the randomly selected player of the day posts I do? I plan to do literally every single player/coach we ever had. I’m not sure what to do once we get new players/coaches, I’ll probably throw them into the mix. And I’m not sure what do once it’s finally finished. Maybe start it up again? Let me know what you guys think.
For as many games I’ve played after Kane & Lynch 2, I always think back to “A Thousand Cuts.” I don’t think there was a crazier mission in any game I’ve played than having two mutilated naked dudes running through Shanghai and getting into shootouts with the police.