With 11 days left before opening night at Nationwide Arena, jersey No. 11 has turned into a tidy little snapshot of Blue Jackets history. The list runs from one of the franchise’s early veterans to a few short-timers, then lands on the present-day name that matters most: Adam Fantilli.
Kevin Dineen was the first real anchor here for Columbus, wearing No. 11 from 2001 to 2003 after being drafted by Hartford in 1982. He skated in 129 games for the Blue Jackets and put up 29 points during the franchise’s early years.
His Columbus run ended after just four games in the 2002-03 season, and on November 5, 2002, he retired from playing. Over 1,188 career games, Dineen finished with 355 goals, 760 points and 2,229 penalty minutes.
He later moved into the Blue Jackets front office as a Pro Scout and then an assistant general manager, coached the AHL’s Portland Pirates for six seasons, and eventually became head coach of the Florida Panthers before being fired after two and a half seasons. From there, he joined the Chicago Blackhawks as an assistant.
Craig MacDonald’s stint in 2009 was much shorter. Drafted by Hartford in 1996, he played eight games for Columbus in 2008-09 and picked up two points. He never appeared in another NHL game after that, went to Germany in 2009 and retired in 2013.
Chris Clark wore No. 11 in 2010 after being drafted by Calgary in 1994. He played 89 games for Columbus and totaled 20 points, and his NHL playing career ended after his time with the Blue Jackets.
But he stayed connected to the organization, first as a scout and later as a development coach for eight years. In 2019, he was elevated to Director of Player Personnel for Columbus and General Manager of the Cleveland Monsters, roles he still holds.
In 2023, he was also named General Manager of Team USA for the World Championships.
Then came Matt Calvert, who wore No. 11 from 2011 to 2018 after being drafted by Columbus in 2008. He played 416 games for the Jackets and scored 149 points, but his value went well beyond the box score.
He built his reputation on fearless plays, blocking shots and throwing hits, and became a player fans embraced for his toughness and the kind of person he was. Calvert was forced to retire in 2021 because of medical issues, and he later co-founded CAL Sports Management, where he serves as Director of Recruitment and Development.
Kevin Stenlund had the number from 2019 to 2022 after being drafted by Columbus in 2015. The big Swede appeared in 71 games for the Blue Jackets and had 20 points.
He’s now with the Utah Hockey Club, and he won a Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers alongside former CBJ goalie Sergei Bobrovsky. Elite prospects described him as "An intelligent, big-bodied center with superb puck-handling ability.
His greatest asset is his mature mindset: he thinks the game at a high level. Plays a simplified, complete game and doesn't make low-percentage plays.
Uses his edges well at a level that suits his style of play - physical and hard to play against; that being said, there is still room for improvement in his skating and first three strides. Protects the puck well."
Columbus never got the full payoff from Stenlund, which makes his case a frustrating one in hindsight.
The current No. 11 is Adam Fantilli, listed for 2024 after being drafted by Columbus in 2023. A brutal skate cut in 2024 knocked him out for the rest of the season after he had scored 12 goals and totaled 27 points.
Two seasons ago, he started slowly before catching fire, finishing tied for the team lead with 31 goals while adding 23 assists for 54 points. Last season, he set career highs in assists and points, and he’s expected to keep building on that - if he’s signed soon.
Luke Kunin closes out the number’s recent history in 2025 after being drafted by Minnesota in 2016. He played 12 games for Columbus after coming over from the San Jose Sharks at the 2025 NHL trade deadline and didn’t record a point. He signed a one-year deal with the Florida Panthers in August as a free agent and remains unsigned for 2026-27.
There are 11 days until opening night at NWA.
In Other News...
Blue Jackets Roster Battle Starts Getting Real In First Preseason Look
The Blue Jackets are finally moving from camp skates to something closer to a real evaluation, with their first preseason game against the Red Wings set to give the staff a useful early look at a roster still taking shape. With only a limited number of exhibition games on the calendar and some restrictions on who can play, these openers carry a little more weight than usual, especially for a club trying to separate established pieces from the prospects pushing to matter.
That makes the first game a useful snapshot of a defense battle that has been building since camp began, while also creating room for younger players to show they belong in the conversation. Mathieu Olivier, Conor Garland, Denton Mateychuk, Ivan Provorov and Dante Fabbro are all expected to get in, so the Jackets should have enough regulars on the ice to make the matchup meaningful without losing sight of the bigger question: which players keep giving the coaching staff reasons to keep them around when the games start counting. [Read more 🡒]
Blue Jackets Camp Suddenly Has Two Contract Problems Fans Can't Ignore
Adam Fantillis contract situation has quietly become one of the first major storylines of Blue Jackets camp, and the pause has been long enough to get attention around the room. The young center remains unsigned and has now missed four straight days of training camp, leaving Columbus without one of its most important pieces as the club tries to build momentum heading into the season.
Kirill Marchenko adds another layer to the picture, because any conversation about moving him runs straight into the cost of keeping him. His next deal is expected to come in at a premium, which complicates both trade chatter and long-term planning for a team that cant afford many loose ends. For a Blue Jackets group trying to settle its roster and identity early, the contract questions are starting to pile up in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]
Blue Jackets Offseason Plan Hinges On Two Crucial Contract Decisions
The Blue Jackets summer has turned into a waiting game, with front office plans being shaped less by outside trade chatter than by two key contract tracks. Columbus is working through a long-term extension for center Cole Fantilli, and the talks matter because of what they mean for the roster around him. Until that deal gets sorted out, the club is holding off on some of its other decisions while trying to keep its salary picture flexible.
Kirill Marchenko adds another layer to the puzzle. The winger is entering the final year of his contract, and his next deal could force Columbus to confront how much room it really has to maneuver under the cap. With both negotiations hanging over the offseason, the Blue Jackets trade posture and broader team-building plans may stay in limbo a little longer than they would like. [Read more 🡒]