Excitement high as Columbus Blue Jackets prepare for 2022 season
Photo by: Sam Fahmi / Columbus Wired
COLUMBUS, Ohio – There’s a certain electricity that is evident when you enter the Arena District in downtown Columbus. It isn’t quite hockey season yet in Central Ohio, but the Columbus Blue Jackets are quickly becoming the talk of the town.
The Jackets claimed the top free agent this summer, locking in forward Johnny Gaudreau to a seven year, $68-million contract. The team also re-signed Patrik Laine to a contract extension and that buzz has been great for business for the franchise.
Season-ticket sales have returned to pre-pandemic levels as the team announced Monday its sales department has been busy this summer. Over11,000 fans have locked in their seats for the upcoming season and guaranteed their spot inside of Nationwide Arena to see “Johnny Hockey” take the ice inUnion Blue.
President of Hockey Operations John Davidson recalls what it was like when the Jackets began conversations with Gaudreau at the start of the summer.
“We had a lot of discussions as to whether we should chase people and try to make adecision on this player or that player,” Davidson said. “The thing you have to be sure of when you get into this business. When you get a call about a really good player and you say ‘you know what, he’s entertaining Columbus’ you sometimes wonder about the agent’s business. What are they trying to do? Are they trying to find two or three other teams to promote that player and getting him a better contract.”
As conversations between the two sides progressed, it was evident that Gaudreau’s camp was entertaining Columbus as a serious landing spot for the much sought-after free agent.
“WithJarmo (Kekalainen) and Josh Flynn they had good communications, the communication was really strong with Johnny Gaudreau’s agent. It just kind of grew.”
Once the team did its due diligence, they knew it was time to move in and get thedeal done. When Gaudreau signed on the dotted line, Laine called members of theCBJ front office from Finland saying he had goose pimples.
Davidson understands the excitement surrounding the promise that this forthcoming BlueJackets season can bring, but also recognizes the team must keep its emotions in check.
“I like where we are, I like the excitement in the city, but the excitement of our group has to be, not tampered but be very thoughtful in trying to analyze and think where we are to make strong decisions going forward,” he said.
The Blue Jackets begin their 2022-23 campaign this Wednesday,September 21 as preseason gets underway.