The Columbus Blue Jackets have released the names of the Captain and Alternate Captains for the upcoming 2023-2024 NHL Season.

Columbus is looking to bounce back after an incredibly disappointing 2022-2023 season.

Last season the Blue Jackets were decimated by injuries. At least 45 different players suited up and played a regular season game for them last season.

They finished 25-48-9 for 59 points.

Captain – Boone Jenner

Forward Boone Jenner will be wearing the C for the third season in a row.

He played in 68 games during the 22-23 season, with 26 goals (7 on the powerplay), and 19 assists, for 45 points.

He had a +/- of -32, with 51 penalty minutes and averaged 20:12 TOI/G (time on ice per game).

Jenner was drafted by the Blue Jackets in the 2nd round of the 2011 NHL Draft.

He has played his entire NHL career so far with Columbus.

Alternate Captain – Zach Werenski

Defenseman Zack Werenski will be wearing the A for the third straight season.

He played in only 13 games during the 22-23 season, with 3 goals, and 5 assists, for 8 points.

He had a +/- of -6 with 0 penalty minutes, and averaged 23:35 TOI/G.

Werenski was drafted by the Blue Jackets in the 1st round of the 2015 NHL Draft.

He has played his entire NHL career so far with Columbus.

Alternate Captain – Erik Gudbranson

Defenseman Erik Gudbranson will be wearing the A for the first time as a Blue Jacket.

He played in 70 games during the 22-23 season, with 1 goal, and 12 assists for 13 points.

He had a +/- of -24 with 57 penalty minutes, and averaged 21:17 TOI/G.

Gudbranson was drafted by the Florida Panthers with the #3 overall pick in the 2010 NHL Draft.

Throughout his career he’s suited up for Florida, Vancouver, Pittsburgh, Anaheim, Ottawa, Nashville, and Calgary.

This is his second season in Columbus.

Alternate Captain – Sean Kuraly

Forward Sean Kuraly will be wearing the A for the second time as a Blue Jacket.

He played in 71 games during the 22-23 season, with 11 goals, and 9 assists, for 20 points.

He also led the team in hits, with a career high 240, and was fifth in takeaways.

He had a +/- of -28 with 68 penalty minutes, and averaged 13:58 TOI/G.

Kuraly was drafted by the Boston Bruins in the 5th round of the 2011 NHL Draft.

He has only played for Boston and Columbus in his career so far.

Sean Kuraly is also a “hometown boy”, as he was born and raised in Dublin, OH and spent his first sixteen years playing in Ohio, and then coming back home to play college at Miami of Ohio.

– by Sean McKenzie

Photos courtesy of sportingnews, unionandblue, dispatch, theathletic, and carpscorner

Stats courtesy of ESPN and NHL