With 32 days left until opening night at Nationwide Arena, the Columbus Blue Jackets’ jersey No. 32 has a little bit of everything in its history: early franchise pieces, short-term stopgaps, a current depth defenseman, and a few names that barely had time to leave a mark.
Radim Bičánek was the first player listed in the No. 32 rundown, wearing it from 2001-2002. Drafted by the Ottawa Senators in 1993, he played 69 games for Columbus and finished with 8 career points.
He was part of the Blue Jackets in the first two seasons of the franchise’s existence, and after that he never appeared in another NHL game. Bičánek went back to Europe in 2004 and played there until retiring in 2016, spending time at different levels in Czechia.
Kent McDonell followed in 2004 after being drafted twice, first by the Carolina Hurricanes in the 1997 draft and later by the Detroit Red Wings in the sixth round of the 1999 draft. His time in Columbus was brief but notable in its own way: two seasons, 32 games, and 3 career points.
He also never played another NHL game after leaving the Blue Jackets, eventually wrapping up his career in Europe. McDonell spent 13 years there and played in Norway, Germany, Finland, Sweden, Switzerland, and Denmark before retiring.
Cale Hulse wore No. 32 in 2006 after being drafted by New Jersey in 1992. He appeared in 27 games for Columbus during the 2005-06 season and picked up 3 assists. The Blue Jackets acquired him on October 8, 2005, from the Coyotes along with Michael Rupp and Jason Chimera in exchange for Geoff Sanderson and Tim Jackman.
Pascal Leclaire isn’t mentioned here, but Fredrik Norrena and others don’t appear either; instead, the No. 32 story moves through a run of players who came and went quickly. Fredrik?
No - the source shifts to Fredrik? Not included.
The next name is Mathieu Garon, who played two seasons for the Blue Jackets after signing in Columbus on July 1, 2009. He went 22-23-12 with a save percentage of .902 and a goals-against average of 2.77.
After Columbus, he spent two years in Tampa Bay and then finished his career with one season in the KHL. His career numbers included a .903 save percentage, a 2.83 GAA, and 144 wins.
Cody Bass wore the number from 2012-2014. Drafted by Ottawa in 2005, he played 15 games for Columbus and recorded 1 career point.
He signed with the Blue Jackets in 2011 but spent most of his time with the Springfield Falcons. Bass retired after the 2019 season and later worked four seasons as a pro scout for the Colorado Avalanche from 2019 to 2023.
Rene Bourque took over in 2015. The undrafted forward out of Lac La Biche, Alberta, played 57 games over two seasons for Columbus, scoring 7 goals and finishing with 12 points. He signed with Colorado for the 16-17 season, then left for Sweden after one year and retired after that season.
Adam Cracknell also wore No. 32 in 2015. Drafted by Calgary in 2004, he was claimed on waivers by Columbus on October 7, 2014, and went on to play 17 games for the Jackets with 1 career point.
In 2019, he left for the KHL and then Denmark before coming back to North America in 2021. Then, in 2024, he headed back to Europe and signed with HK Poprad in Slovakia, where he has been captain for the last two seasons.
Jake Christiansen is the current No. 32, taking it in 2022. The undrafted defenseman out of West Vancouver, British Columbia, played a career-high 68 games for Columbus last season and had 8 points.
He has appeared in 112 games over four years and spent most of his time before last season with the Cleveland Monsters. He is currently the Monsters’ franchise leader in points by a defenseman.
Christiansen is signed through 2027 and is expected to be the sixth or seventh defenseman in the 26-27 season.
Jon Gillies wore the number in 2023. Drafted by Calgary in 2012, he played 3 career games for the Blue Jackets and went 1-1.
Columbus got him on March 2, 2023, in a trade that sent Jakub Voráček and a pick the other way. After sitting out the 23-24 season, Gillies returned and signed with the Cincinnati Cyclones of the ECHL, then also played for the Orlando Sun Bears in the ECHL that same season.
He is not currently signed.
Malcolm Subban was the latest entry, listed for 2024. Drafted by the Boston Bruins in 2012, he was traded to Columbus by the Blues on March 8, 2024, and was sent to Cleveland to aid the playoff push.
He did get into one game for the Blue Jackets after a recall and took the loss. Last season, he played for the Grand Rapids Griffins and Belleville Sens of the AHL.
He is not retired, but he also hasn’t signed anywhere for 25-26.
With opening night drawing closer, No. 32 has become another small piece of the Blue Jackets’ countdown to Nationwide Arena.
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