The Columbus Blue Jackets have 11 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena. Today, we look at the history of jersey #11. 

Let's take a look.

Kevin Dineen - 2001-2003 - Drafted by Hartford in 1982. 

A CBJ Original, Dineen played 129 games for the Jackets and had 29 points in the early days of the franchise. He appeared in only four games in the 2002–03 season with Columbus, and on November 5, 2002, he retired from playing. In 1188 career games, Dineen recorded 355 goals and 760 points while registering 2229 penalty minutes.  

After retiring, he joined the Blue Jackets front office as a Pro Scout and later as an assistant. General Manager. He was the head coach of the AHL's Portland Pirates for six seasons before being hired as the head coach of the Florida Panthers. After two and a half seasons in Florida, he was fired and hired as an assistant by the Chicago Blackhawks. He has since been a head coach for the San Diego Gulls and the Utica Comets of the AHL. After starting the 24-25 season 0-8-0-1, Dineen was fired on November 6th, 2024. 

Craig MacDonald - 2009 - Drafted by Hartford in 1996. 

MacDonald played eight games as a Jacket in 08-09 and had two points. He never played another NHL game after his time in Columbus. 

He left for Germany in 2009 and retired in 2013. 

Chris Clark - 2010 - Drafted by Calgary in 1994. 

Clark played 89 games for Columbus and had 20 points. He never played another NHL game after Columbus.

After retiring from the NHL, he was hired by the Blue Jackets as a Scout. He later moved into the position of Development Coach and did that for 8 years. In 2019, he was promoted to the positions of Director of Player Personnel for Columbus and General Manager of the Cleveland Monsters, and he still holds those positions today. In 2023, he was also named General Manager of Team USA for the World Championships. 

Matt Calvert - 2011-2018 - Drafted by Columbus in 2008. 

Calvert played 416 games as a Jacket and had 149 points. Known as a player who was not afraid to step in front of a puck or lay a huge hit, Calvert personified what it was to be a Columbus Blue Jacket. Calvert was loved by all fans for his toughness and for being a great person.

Forced to retire in 2021 due to medical issues, he co-founded CAL Sports Management, where he is the Director of Recruitment and Development. 

Kevin Stenlund - 2019-2022 - Drafted by Columbus in 2015. 

The big Swede played 71 games as a Blue Jacket and had 20 points. He is currently playing for the Utah Hockey Club, but last season won a Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers alongside former CBJ goalie Sergei Bobrovsky.

Elite prospects described Stenlund as "An intelligent, big-bodied center with superb puck handling ability. His greatest asset is his mature mindset: he thinks the game at a high level. Plays a simplified, complete game and doesn't make low-percentage plays. Uses his edges well at a level that suits his style of play - physical and hard to play against; that being said, there is still room for improvement in his skating and first three strides. Protects the puck well."

Unfortunately, it didn't work out for Stenlund in Columbus, which is a shame.  

Adam Fantilli - 2024 - Drafted by Columbus in 2023.

After suffering a brutal skate cut in 2024, he was forced to miss the rest of the season. He scored 12 goals and totaled 27 points. 

Last season, Fantilli got off to a bit of a slow start but really turned it on as the season went on. He would finish the season tied for the team lead with 31 goals. He also chipped in 23 assists and totaled 54 points. 

This season, Fantilli is expected to take yet another step and become the dominating two-way player everyone thinks he can be. With the tutelage of Boone Jenner and Sean Monahan, he should be able to continue to grow into the face of the franchise. 

Luke Kunin - 2025 - Drafted by Minnesota in 2016.

Kunin played 12 games for Columbus after being traded from the San Jose Sharks at the 2025 NHL trade deadline. He failed to register a point in 12 games. 

As a free agent, Kunin signed with the Florida Panthers in August on a one-year deal.

There are 11 days until opening night at NWA. 

The pre-season schedule is as follows:

Saturday, Oct. 4 at Washington Capitals, 7 p.m. ET

After that, the Blue Jackets will open the regular season on the road against the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena.

Let us know what you think below.

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The Ottawa Senators wrapped up their six-day, two-game Quebec City stop on Tuesday night with a 5-0 loss to the Montreal Canadiens in preseason action. On the scoreboard, the game meant nothing. But on the ice, it turned into a night of bad blood, dirty hits, and settling scores.

It was compelling theatre for fans, but for head coaches Martin St. Louis and Travis Green, it was a wasted opportunity to evaluate players and fine-tune systems. As expected, the nastiness spilled over to social media on Wednesday, with Sens fans and Habs fans going at each other over who started what.

Here are four of the most talked-about nasty moments from Tuesday night’s game. This obviously isn't the complete gospel, because no one sees everything that happens on the ice, and they certainly don't hear everything that might be said, which could spark a fight, hack, or hit that otherwise seems random. And even if they could see and heat it all, everyone interprets things differently.

But I've watched the video carefully, and here's my evaluation of what I think happened in each case.

1. Hayden Hodgson’s Hit from Behind on Alex Newhook

At 16:54 of the second period, Ottawa forward Hayden Hodgson delivered a dangerous hit from behind on Montreal’s Alex Newhook. Hodgson, who got a brief NHL look at the end of last season, is fighting to earn a role with the Senators through physical play. But in his eagerness to impress in that area, he crossed the line.

It was the kind of reckless finish that happens when a player is desperate to make an impact. Hodgson was fined by the NHL on Wednesday, and was fortunate he didn't get suspended. Even more fortunately, Newhook wasn’t seriously injured.

2. Struble’s Cross-Check to Jeník’s Face Was An Accident

Emotions were high in the stoppage right after Hodgson’s hit, as players began jawing. Sens winger David Perron lightly cross-checked Montreal defenseman Jayden Struble. It was nothing. Jenik moved in, and Struble responded by cross-checking him at roughly the same angle Perron had. But Perron got his stick in the way so Struble's stick slid up Perron's and accidentally caught Jeník in the face. Still a penalty, of course. But Struble had no intent, in my opinion, to strike Jenik in the face.

The result, though, was predictable: fights broke out. Arber Xhekaj tangled with Zack MacEwen, while Struble himself squared off with Jeník. The Canadiens got the big upper hand in both scraps.

3. Florian Xhekaj vs. Carter Yakemchuk

Third period now. Montreal’s Jake Evans bumped into Dylan Cozens in a light reverse hit at the Canadiens' blue line. Down 5-0 now, MacEwen didn't like it, so he bodied an unsuspecting Evans after the whistle, shoving him during the hit so he was teetering on top of the boards at the Habs bench. A roughing penalty for sure, but the Xhekaj brothers then both jumped into the scrum to rain blows down on MacEwen.

I swear, it reminded me of Slapshot in the scene where the Hansen brothers worked over an opponent together in the corner, and he just topples over sideways when they skate away.

With 19-year-old Carter Yakemchuk — the Senators’ top prospect — seeing 3 or 4 Canadiens all giving MacEwen the business, he came in to try and even out the numbers. He pulled the younger Xhekaj out of the melee, and the Habs’ minor-league tough guy took that as a challenge to fight. hammering Yakemchuk with six fast, hard punches. Wailing on a team's top prospect will never be appreciated, but what I had a way bigger problem with was Xhekaj's move at the end of it.

He grabbed Yakemchuk by the front of his shoulders and pulled him backwards to throw him awkwardly and violently to the ice. Thankfully, Yakemchuk landed flat on his upper back, but watching the replay, if you told me he ended up with a right knee injury, a shoulder injury, a neck injury, or a concussion, I would believe you.

That's judo, pro wrestling or MMA. If I had to pick any incident that should have earned a suspension on Tuesday night, it was that one, even over the Hodgson hit.

Credit to Cozens, who tried to intervene but was restrained by one of the Canadiens.

4. Nick Cousins Slashes Ivan Demidov

The last incident I reviewed (there were others) came just over a minute after the Yakemchuk incident. Canadiens forward Nick Cousins decided to go after Ottawa’s top offensive prospect, Ivan Demidov. Cousins first lined him up for a long run along the boards, then chased him up ice and capped it with a slash to the wrist.

The NHL fined Cousins for the slash on Wednesday. It was unquestionably a dirty play. But in context, it was a direct response to the dirty play that had just happened to Yakemchuk.

Final Word

Tuesday night’s tilt in Quebec City was about emotion, payback, and grudges. With the Senators and Canadiens meeting again on Saturday, this time in Montreal, both teams would ideally like to get back to hockey and get ready for their season openers. But the way these two teams hate on each other, they may not be able to help themselves, so I feel like there's a good chance they take it into the gutter again. If they do, I guess Sportsnet will just have to bite the bullet and deal with the record ratings.

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Brady Tkachuk On Starring In Prime Video Show: 'I'm An Open Book To Begin With'
Broadcast Frustrations Resurface For Senators Fans
Ullmark Says He Enjoys The Struggle
Former Senator Josh Norris Embraces New Opportunity To Prove Himself

BRACEBRIDGE, Ont. — Simon Benoit is feeling better after a “bump” early in training camp forced the defenseman to miss a portion of on-ice activities with the Toronto Maple Leafs due to an upper-body injury.

“It was bothering me so I just didn’t want to take any risk to make it worse,” Benoit told The Hockey News.

Benoit took part in his first full practice without having to wear the red non-contact jersey, as the club practiced at the Muskoka Lumber Community Centre for their annual getaway up north.

Simon Benoit is taking part in a regular jersey for the first time since sustaining an upper-body injury. He had been in a red non-contact jersey.

⁦@BodogCA⁩ pic.twitter.com/ES5i0laCJ8

— David Alter (@dalter) October 1, 2025

The third-year Leaf wasn’t concerned, as he was during his first go-around with Toronto in 2023, when the defenseman suffered from back spasms. When he returned, he started his season with the Toronto Marlies before working his way back to the Leafs and eventually earning an everyday spot with the NHL club.

But now a new challenge awaits the 27-year-old from Laval, Quebec: playing on the right side.

When training camp opened, the Leafs flipped Benoit and Oliver Ekman-Larsson. Both players are left-handed shots, and while skating together, it was Ekman-Larsson who skated on the right side. While Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said earlier in the camp that playing on the strong side unlocks more offense—a sentiment underscored by Ekman-Larsson, who scored just four goals last season compared to the nine he put up with the Florida Panthers in 2023-24—this positional switch means Benoit will play on his weak side, something he hasn’t done at the NHL level before.

Maple Leafs Provide Update On Playing Status Of Max Domi, Simon Benoit and Nicolas Roy As the Toronto Maple Leafs prepare for their second game of the preseason, there remain question marks about a few key players in their lineup.

With two games remaining in the pre-season, Benoit is eager to get into games so he can get some time on the weak side.

“It just takes a couple of games to break the habit and make sure you are in the right spot,” Benoit said.

The Leafs have been pleased with Benoit’s game over the last couple of years. He is a big, bruising defensive defenseman who is responsible with the puck. But now he aims to evolve his game by contributing offensively.

Benoit exhibited some of that ability when he set up Max Domi for Toronto’s overtime-winning goal against the Ottawa Senators in Game 2 of their 2025 first-round Stanley Cup Playoff series. He took it a step further, scoring the game-winner in Game 3 of that series.

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According to a report, former Philadelphia Flyers goalie Carter Hart is rapidly gaining momentum to sign with a top Western Conference contender in the coming days.

On Wednesday, The Athletic NHL insider Chris Johnston reported that Hart, 27, is the closest of the recently acquitted Hockey Canada players to signing a new contract and resuming his playing career in the NHL.

The Vegas Golden Knights, according to Johnston's sources, are a near lock to sign the former Flyers goalie to a deal.

"Hart appears closest to signing a contract, with the Vegas Golden Knights almost certain to be the eventual destination for the 27-year-old goaltender, according to league sources," Johnston wrote for The Athletic. "Hart received interest from multiple NHL teams and is drawn to the opportunity to play for a contender in a situation where he’d likely end up sharing the crease with Adin Hill."

Flyers Roster Prediction 1.0: Nikita Grebenkin Secures Big OpportunityFollowing multiple roster cuts on Tuesday, the Philadelphia Flyers have only a handful of decisions to make before they reach their final roster for the start of the regular season.

The 27-year-old Hart was found not guilty of the sexual assault charge levied against him on July 24 and has since been reinstated by the NHL, though it should be noted that he, along with the other four players involved in the Hockey Canada trial, are suspended until Dec. 1.

Hart was eligible to sign a contract with a new team as of Wednesday, though it will not be officially registered until Oct. 15.

Previously, it was reported, then confirmed by the Flyers themselves, that a reunion in Philadelphia would not be in the cards.

Hart last played an NHL game on Jan. 20, 2024, when he ceded five goals on 15 shots and was replaced by Sam Ersson in a 7-4 loss to the Colorado Avalanche.

Just when you thought the fun Stanley Cup stories from the summer were over, the Florida Panthers squeezed in one more ahead of Opening Night.

On Tuesday, the Panthers played the Tampa Bay Lightning at Kia Center in Orlando, and on Thursday, the rivals will meet again, this time in Tampa.

As they have done in the past when playing an exhibition game in Orlando, the Panthers took the opportunity to enjoy some of what the tourist destination city has to offer.

This year, Florida was afforded the opportunity to include something very special: the Stanley Cup.

On Wednesday, the Panthers and the Cup visited Universal Studios’ brand new Epic Universe theme park.

Judging by the looks on many of the players’ faces, having the chance to cut loose and enjoy a little fun with each other before the season is something that they took full advantage of.

“It’s great,” said Panthers forward A.J. Greer. “We got to do something very unique, something that we don’t get to do much often, and I haven’t done it since I was a kid.

“You feel like a kid, and walking around with your best friends, it’s great to indulge in some of the stuff that you used to love.”

You can check out footage of the Cats’ day at Epic Univese in the video below:

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A few days ago, we had our Mailbox Monday, and I gave my final predictions for the Pittsburgh Penguins' final 2025-26 roster.

Well, as it turns out, some things have changed. More specifically, some of these young players - and the veterans - have me changing my mind. 

Through six pre-season games, the Penguins are 4-1-1, and that is in large part to some of the young players who are making a statement in this camp. While I don't think that means every single one of them will make the opening night NHL roster for puck drop on Oct. 7, I do think some of them have made enough of an impression to earn their way there - and I also think there are some veterans that have not performed up to standard and could, potentially, be blocking one of those younger players from a roster spot.

With major roster cuts expected within the next two days, we are drawing closer and closer to the end of camp - and the dawn of the new season.

So, here goes. Here is my final roster prediction to begin the 2025-26 season.

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Forwards (14)

C Sidney Crosby
No explanation required.

C Evgeni Malkin
See "C Sidney Crosby."

RW Bryan Rust
Assuming he is not dealt in the next week, Rust will be on the opening night roster.

LW/RW/C Rickard Rakell
See "RW Bryan Rust."

RW Anthony Mantha
Mantha has shown value with his size, strength, and ability to create scoring opportunities off his shot. He has also meshed well with Malkin up to this point, and the Penguins will not want to waste a chance for him to make himself valuable enough to flip for assets at the trade deadline.

Penguins' Pre-Season: Prospects Lead Way As Penguins Defeat Sabres, 5-3The Pittsburgh Penguins continued their winning ways in the pre-season on Wednesday when they visited the Buffalo Sabres.

LW Ville Koivunen
It will be an absolute travesty - as well as serious malpractice - if Koivunen is not on this roster to start the season. He is tied for the pre-season lead in goals with two, and he's making guys look silly out there on a nightly basis.

C Tristan Broz
Broz has been one of the most impressive forwards in camp, period. And not only has he impressed offensively with two power play goals, it's telling that the Penguins are experimenting with him up and down the lineup and in all situations, almost as if to test him - and he's passed with flying colors.

RW Philip Tomasino
At first, I did not have Tomasino on my final roster projection. But he has been legitimately good in the last couple of games, and he has also shown some chemistry with a few other guys who could be on the roster. He's been going to the net a lot, he's been unafraid to pull the trigger, and he's made a few nice passing plays, too. He's earned a stay on the roster.

Penguins' Mid-Camp Prospect Tiers: Who Is Most Likely To Make NHL Roster?We're officially 10 days into Pittsburgh Penguins' training camp, and if one thing is for certain, there has been a ton of competition. 

C Filip Hallander
In the first half of camp, I felt that Hallander needed to show me more in order to convince me he should be on the roster. Well, he has convinced me in the last couple of games with his playmaking smarts, his two-way play, and his center drive. I like what I've seen from him, and he didn't cross an ocean again for nothing.

C/LW Connor Dewar
Dewar has been outstanding in this camp. He made himself stand out in the 4-1 win against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday with a nice backhand goal and a fight, and he continues to prove why he may be a hidden gem for the Penguins on their fourth line.

RW Justin Brazeau
He's big, he's physical, he forechecks well, he goes to the net... and he's remarkably good at deflections. While that reason alone is not enough to earn him a roster spot, what does earn him a spot is his knack for seemingly always being in the right place at the right time. He's a great combination of size and smarts, which is something the Penguins could use.

C Ben Kindel
If you would have asked me at the beginning of camp if Kindel had a shot, I may have laughed. Not because Kindel isn't good, but because there are so many worthy forwards in camp. But Kindel has managed to rise above them all, and he's earned himself a nine-game trial - even if that means waiving a veteran. He may need to add size, but so does almost every 18- or 19-year-old who plays in the NHL. To me, that's not a valid reason to hold him back when he's shown he can handle NHL-grade competition - and even outmatch it.

Should Ben Kindel Get The Nine-Game Trial? The Case For And AgainstThere are a lot of stories coming out of Pittsburgh Penguins' training camp this year. Many of them involve young players making an impression and pushing for the NHL roster.

C Blake Lizotte
Quite honestly, I think Lizotte barely makes this roster. It's not because he's been bad, but there have simply been younger centermen who have outplayed him. He's someone the Penguins would probably lose to waivers, so I think they'd rather hold onto him for a potential trade later.

C Tommy Novak
Truly, I haven't been a huge fan of Novak's camp. There are times when he looks a step slow, and he could stand to do a bit more away from the puck. But I have liked the look of the Novak-Hallander-Tomasino combination, and I do think that he has more to offer than what he's shown.

Notable omissions: Avery Hayes, Noel Acciari, Danton Heinen, Robby Fabbri, Boko Imama

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Defensemen (7)

RD Erik Karlsson
Barring a surprise trade, there is no way the Penguins' top defenseman misses out on a roster spot. He's consistently been paired with a stay-at-home partner, and they've meshed well together.

RD Kris Letang
See "C Sidney Crosby" and "C Evgeni Malkin."

RD Matt Dumba
Dumba has been one of the best surprises of camp, and this is good news for him and the Penguins. He seems to be a different player than he was with the Dallas Stars a year ago, and he has been unleashing his booming shot with consistency, too. The pre-season has been good for his confidence, and, hopefully, that can translate to the regular season and turn him into a tradeable asset.

Ben Kindel setting up this Matt Dumba one-timer.

I’ll admit, I felt Penguins reached on Kindel, but is proving scouts & myself wrong. Kid has a chance to be an absolute stud pic.twitter.com/M8PI1poU5h

— Jason Shetler (@Jason_Shetler) October 2, 2025

RD Connor Clifton
Clifton has been very sound in this camp. He knows his identity and sticks to it, and he's never trying to do too much. He strikes me as someone the Penguins could potentially play on their off-side, too.

RD Harrison Brunicke
Brunicke may not have been his tip-top self in a 5-3 win over Buffalo Wednesday, but he's been tip-top otherwise all throughout camp. He's already one of the Penguins' three best defenseman in this camp, and he has absolutely nothing left to prove or develop in juniors. His development needs to happen at the NHL level. He's ready, and he's a good, smart hockey player.

LD Parker Wotherspoon
Wotherspoon has been very unremarkable in the best possible way. His defensive details are on-point, and - so far, anyway - it seems like he can read pretty well off of Karlsson, which is a very hard thing to do. He plays a simple, calm game, and the Penguins need that on their blue line.

Mailbox Monday: What Will The Penguins' Final Roster Look Like?Pittsburgh Penguins' training camp is beginning to draw to a close, and there is sure to be a lot of drama in the next several days. 

LD Ryan Shea
Shea struggled a bit in the 5-3 loss to Buffalo, but before that, he was making his case. It's worth noting that Shea played his off-side in Buffalo and that the Penguins only had five defensemen. Other than that, he's had a solid, steady camp and has earned his way onto the NHL roster.

Notable omissions: Owen Pickering, Ryan Graves, Caleb Jones, Jack St. Ivany

Goaltenders (2)

Starter: Tristan Jarry
Jarry has been good in the pre-season, and - although he will more than likely have a short leash at the NHL  level - he has earned the right to try to defend is net from younger guys coming up through the system and via trade - at least, one last time for old times' sake.

Backup: Arturs Silovs
Some will groan that this isn't Sergei Murashov, but the best thing for Murashov's development right now is to get a heavy workload in the AHL and see how he handles it. Besides, Silovs has been perfectly serviceable and solid, and he's earned his way onto the roster as a No. 2.

Notable omissions: Sergei Murashov, Filip Larsson

'Inspiring': Penguins' Top Goaltending Prospect Reflects On Fleury, Game To Remember Marc-Andre Fleury's final game in Pittsburgh was an unforgettable experience for many, fans and longtime teammates alike. 

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