The Blue Jackets are 23 days out from opening night at Nationwide Arena, and that countdown comes with a look back at one of the most worn sweater numbers in franchise history. No. 23 has been a revolving door in Columbus, worn by a record 15 players since 2000.
The list starts at the beginning. Yevgeny Selivanov wore it in the 2000 inaugural season and gave Columbus 59 games, eight goals and 19 points before heading back to Russia after that lone year with the Jackets. He later played in Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands, retiring in 2012.
Kevin Dahl followed in 2001 after being drafted by the Montréal Canadiens in the 1988 draft. He appeared in four games for Columbus that season and finished without a point. His NHL run ended there, and after his time with the Jackets he spent three years in Germany, including a stint with the Nürnberg Ice Tigers of the DEL before retiring in 2004.
Derrick Walser eventually became one of the longest-running No. 23s in team history, wearing it from 2002 to 2007. The undrafted defenseman from New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, played 91 games for Columbus and put up 29 points. He never played another NHL game after leaving the Blue Jackets, later taking his career overseas and eventually into coaching, where he is now an assistant with the Oshawa Generals.
Dick Tärnström’s time in Columbus was brief but productive. Acquired on February 1, 2008, from the New York Islanders for Curtis Glencross, the former Islanders draftee played 19 games and scored nine points. He later stayed in Sweden until a neck injury forced him to retire in 2013, and now serves as Director of Youth Hockey for MB Hockey in Sweden.
Milan Jurčina arrived in the Jason Chimera trade from the Washington Capitals in December 2009, then lasted just 17 games before being sent back to Washington in 2010. Drafted by the Boston Bruins in 2001, he later played across several countries before retiring in 2022. For the last two seasons, he’s been a European scout for the Bruins.
Tom Sestito also spent time in the number, appearing in 13 games for Columbus over three seasons and collecting four points. Most of his work came in the AHL with the Syracuse Crunch and Springfield Falcons, and the Blue Jackets dealt him to the Philadelphia Flyers on February 28, 2011. He retired in 2018.
Brett Lebda wore No. 23 after Columbus signed him on January 19, 2012. The undrafted defender from Buffalo Grove, Illinois, played 30 games for the club and never appeared in another NHL game. He retired in 2013 and has since been head coaching various age groups for the Chicago Reapers.
Matt Frattin’s stay was short too. Columbus acquired him on March 5, 2014, in a deal for Marion Gáborík, but he played only four games before going back to the Toronto Maple Leafs on July 1, 2014. Drafted by Toronto in 2007, Frattin later played in Europe until retiring in 2023.
Brian Gibbons joined the Jackets on July 4, 2014, and wore No. 23 in 25 games before leaving in free agency in 2015. The undrafted Braintree, Massachusetts, native kept playing in the AHL and NHL until 2020, then moved to Europe and skated in Switzerland, Sweden and Germany.
David Clarkson’s Columbus chapter was cut short by injury. The undrafted winger from Etobicoke, Ontario, played 26 games before a serious back injury derailed his career.
His contract was later traded twice before he officially retired. Afterward, he stayed in the Columbus area and coached the Upper Arlington High School Hockey Team for a season.
He now owns the NAHL’s Colorado Grit, a Tier II junior team based in Greeley, Colorado. The Grit will not participate in league competition during the upcoming season, per the NAHL, but could return next season.
For 26-27, Clarkson will be the head coach for the Okanagan HA Colorado 13U AAA.
Ian Cole brought a veteran presence to the number in 2018 after Columbus acquired him from the Ottawa Senators on February 26. Drafted by the St.
Louis Blues in 2007, the two-time Cup-winning defenseman played 20 games for the Jackets before leaving that summer. He’s now signed to play in Chicago in 26-27.
Stefan Matteau wore No. 23 across the 2020-2021 stretch, playing 27 games for the Jackets over two seasons. Much of his time in the organization came with the Cleveland Monsters, where he spent three seasons and served as captain last season. He retired at the end of last season and has been signed as an assistant coach for the Monsters next season.
Brendan Gaunce had the number in 2022 after signing with Columbus on July 30, 2021, and again on June 18, 2022. Drafted by Vancouver in 2012, he played 50 games for the Blue Jackets and finished with 12 points while also spending most of his time with Cleveland, where he captained the Monsters in 23-24.
He left in free agency on July 1, 2024, and signed with the Minnesota Wild. Gaunce was traded back to the Columbus organization in 25-26 and served as the captain for Cleveland.
He will be playing with the Providence Bruins in 26-27.
Jake Christiansen is the current No. 23 and may be the most important name on the list going forward. The undrafted defenseman from West Vancouver, British Columbia, played a career-high 68 games for Columbus last season and finished with eight points.
He has 112 games over four years, spent most of his time with the Monsters before last season and is currently the franchise leader for points by a defenseman. Signed through 2027, he’ll likely slot in as the sixth or seventh defenseman in 26-27 and will be aiming for a strong year and a bigger contract.
Sean Monahan rounds out the present-day side of the story. He signed a five-year deal with Columbus on July 1, 2024, after following his best friend, Johnny Gaudreau.
Despite missing 28 games with a wrist injury, he put together one of the best seasons of his career with 57 points in 54 games. Last season was a tougher one, as he managed 36 points in 78 games.
If the Blue Jackets are going to make a push for the playoffs, they’ll need Monahan’s leadership and experience to carry some weight.
There are 23 days left until opening day at NWA.
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