Going into the 2021 season, yet again, the Blue Jackets are expected to be one of the youngest teams in the NHL.
Such youngsters as Liam Foudy, Alexandre Texier and Emil Bemstrom -- all aged 21 or younger -- will be counted on to bring speed and skill to the forward group, and even such standouts as Zach Werenski (23 years old) and Pierre-Luc Dubois (22) aren't exactly long in the tooth.
But that doesn't mean there's no veteran presence on the Blue Jackets. Cam Atkinson and David Savard enter their 10th years with the Blue Jackets, with the two set to join Rostislav Klesla as the only players to skate in 10 seasons with the franchise. Meanwhile, not too far behind, Nick Foligno is in his ninth season and Boone Jenner enters year No. 8 with the franchise.
4 days until CBJ hockey: Veteran standbys bring experience
Atkinson, Savard, Foligno, Jenner bring a combined 37 years of CBJ experience
That's 37 combined years of experience in union blue sweaters for the team's veterans, and in that time they've built a culture that has made Columbus one of the most consistent franchises in the NHL, with the Blue Jackets one of just three NHL teams to make the final 16 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs each of the last four years.
And with all that time under their belt, there are some milestones in the offing this year. Here's a little tribute to each of those CBJ old standbys.
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Nick Foligno:What more is there to say about Foligno that hasn't been said? He's become the face of the team in many ways since arriving in the summer of 2012 in a trade with Ottawa, from scoring iconic goals to making himself one of the most accessible figures in the Columbus community. The 33-year-old is still a jack of all trades, playing in all situations and adding grit and scoring touch depending on what the situation entails.
On the milestone front, Foligno currently sits third all-time in team history in games (557, tied with Savard), goals (135), assists (183) and points (318). The 600-game plateau is in reach for Foligno this year, and he could become just the third player in franchise history to reach 200 assists as well.
Cam Atkinson: Both Savard and Atkinson skated in the Blue Jackets' season opener in 2011-12, an Oct. 7, 2012, game vs. Nashville in Nationwide Arena. It was one of the most anticipated openers in team history after the acquisition of Jeff Carter; instead, the Blue Jackets lost that game and their next seven, kicking off a disastrous season that forever altered the arc of franchise history.
Through it all, Atkinson and Savard have helped turn things around, and Atkinson has been one of the consistent offensive sparks through it all. The sniper taken in the sixth round of the 2008 draft has earned two All-Star bids and also become a face of the team in the Columbus community, from his charity work to his creation of The Battery Hockey Academy to help grow the game in Columbus.
Currently, Atkinson sits second in franchise history in games (571), goals (198) and points (368), making him someone who could meet three major milestones this year -- 600 games, 200 goals and 400 points. Only one player has hit each of those marks so far -- the legendary Rick Nash. It will be fitting that Atkinson will be the second.
David Savard: It's hard to wrap your mind around the fact the bearded one has been around that long, but he has. On top of that, his career arc is a fascinating one, as the 30-year-old has gone from a high-scoring offensive blueliner in juniors to one of the more rough-and-tumble defensemen in the league, known for his shot-blocking skills and below-the-hashmarks defending than anything else (no less than new CBJ center Max Domi says Savard might be the hardest defenseman in the league to play against).
Savard is the only member of this group not to wear a letter, but he remains one of the constant presences in the locker room and in the defensive corps. He currently boasts a nice, round career total of 40 goals, 120 assists and 160 points, but the big milestone he should hit this year is 600 games in union blue. Considering he enters the year tied with Foligno with 557 games, they could do it at the same time this year, which might be fitting.
Boone Jenner:The youngest of this quartet, Jenner is just 27 but still enters year No. 8 with the Blue Jackets as he made his team debut at 20 years old. The assistant captain has long been thought to be the physical embodiment of CBJ hockey, a blue-collar work ethic that has made him one of head coach John Tortorella's most dependable players over the past few years, capable of playing in just about every situation.
Fittingly enough, then, Jenner will likely reach a milestone early this year, as he enters having played 489 career games for the team, with No. 500 likely to come in early February if he stays healthy. Moving back to the wing, Jenner could be more of an offensive threat this year, too, and he enters the season sixth in team history with 113 goals and seventh with 223 points.
