The Columbus Blue Jackets are 25 days out from opening night at Nationwide Arena, and jersey No. 25 has quietly packed in a lot of franchise history.
Bruce Gardiner was the first to wear it in Columbus, and he made his mark fast. In 2000, he scored the first goal in franchise history at 7:34 into game one of the season.
Gardiner played 73 games for the Blue Jackets and finished with 22 points, then logged only seven more NHL games after leaving Columbus. He went on to play in Europe, with stops in Russia and Finland, and retired in 2005.
These days, he works as a police officer with the Barrie Police Department. He was charged with criminal harassment and extortion on Feb. 4, 2022, but the charges were dropped in July 2024.
Andrew Cassels followed, wearing No. 25 from 2003-2004 after signing with Columbus in 2002. Drafted by Montreal in 1987, he gave the Jackets 137 games across two seasons, with 26 goals and 94 points.
His final pro season came with Washington in 2005, and he was released in January of 2006. Cassels has stayed close to the game in Columbus, serving as a coach for the Ohio AAA Blue Jackets since 2018.
His son Cole is currently playing in Slovakia after being drafted by the Vancouver Canucks in 2013, and Cole also spent a year with the Cleveland Monsters in 2021-22.
Chimera arrived in Columbus in a trade from the Phoenix Coyotes and ended up playing 331 games for the Jackets before being dealt to the Washington Capitals on December 28, 2009. That trade brought current Cleveland Monsters GM Chris Clark to the Columbus organization. Chimera’s last NHL season came in 2017-18.
Kyle Wilson wore No. 25 in 2011 after signing on July 2, 2010. Drafted by Minnesota in 2004, he played 32 of his 39 career NHL games with Columbus during the 2010-11 season and spent the rest of that year with the Springfield Falcons. He headed to Europe in 2013 and played until 2017 across Latvia, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, and Germany before retiring.
Ryan Russell took over in 2012 after being traded to Columbus on July 7, 2011. The twin brother of former Blue Jacket and long-time NHLer Kris Russell, he played 41 games for the Jackets during the 2011-12 season and spent most of that season and the next with the Springfield Falcons. He later played two seasons in Sweden and one in England before retiring, and he has spent the last nine seasons as an Amateur Scout for the San Jose Sharks.
Luke Adam had the number in 2015 after coming over from Buffalo in a trade on December 16, 2014. He appeared in three games for Columbus.
After that, he left for Europe in 2016 and played seven years in Germany, then one season each in Czechia and Slovakia. In 2024, he returned to North America and signed with the Tahoe Knight Monsters of the ECHL, where he has been captain for the last two seasons.
William Karlsson wore No. 25 in 2016-2017, and he’s the one many people mistakenly connect to the Jackets as a draft pick. He was actually drafted by the Anaheim Ducks in 2011 and traded to Columbus in March 2015.
Karlsson played 165 games for the Blue Jackets and put up 47 points, working mostly as a fourth-line grinder and penalty killer. Vegas took him in the 2017 expansion draft, and he’s been there ever since.
His run there has had its ups and downs, but he has 396 points with the Golden Knights, won the Lady Byng in 2018, and helped them win their first Stanley Cup in 2023.
Mikhail Grigorenko rounded out the list in 2021 after signing with Columbus in July 2020. Drafted by Buffalo in 2012, he played 32 games and posted 12 points.
He returned to Russia after his time with the Blue Jackets and still plays there now. He is signed to play for Traktor Chelyabinsk in the KHL and serves as captain.
There are 25 days until opening night at NWA.
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