6/25/97: The NHL awards a franchise to Columbus.

11/11/97: The Columbus team is named the "Blue Jackets." Many think the name came from a Native American chief. The name actually comes from the blue colored uniforms worn by Union soldiers in the Civil War.

2/11/98: Doug MacLean is named Blue Jackets President and General Manager.

6/23/00: The Blue Jackets participate in the Expansion Draft with the Wild. The first player selected is G Rick Tabaracci from the Avalanche.

10/7/00: The Blue Jackets play their first game in franchise history. They get defeated by the Blackhawks 5-3. Bruce Gardiner scored the Jackets first-ever goal.

10/12/00: The Blue Jackets get their first-ever win, beating the Flames 3-2 in Calgary.

10/27/00: The Blue Jackets get their first win at Nationwide Arena. They beat the Capitals 3-1.

12/18/00: In Montreal, Ron Tugnett makes 27 for the first shutout in Blue Jackets history. They beat the Canadiens 2-0.

12/31/00: The Blue Jackets lose to the Devils 6-3. This was the first Blue Jackets game I ever attended.

2/10/01: Geoff Sanderson scores all three of the team's goals for the first-ever Blue Jackets hat trick in a 3-2 win over the Predators.

4/8/01: Ron Tugnett sets the NHL record for most wins by an expansion team (22) as the Blue Jackets beat the Blackhawks 4-3 in OT.

10/8/01: The Blue Jackets tie the Flyers 2-2. Two days previously, the two teams tied 3-3 in Philadelphia. Two days before that, the Blue Jackets tied the Blues 3-3.

2/2/02: Espen Knutsen becomes the first Blue Jacket to play in the NHL All-Star game. He records one goal and one assist as the World Team beats the North American team 8-5.

3/16/02: In a game against the Flames, a tragedy strikes. Thirteen year-old Britannie Cecil is hit in the head by a puck while in attendance for the game. She would pass away two days later. The team wore decals with the letters "BNC" on their helmets for the remainder of the year.

1/7/03: Dave King, the first coach in team history, is fired. He gets replaced by Doug MacLean.