2003–04 Columbus Blue Jackets season

The 2003–04 Columbus Blue Jackets season was the Blue Jackets' 4th season in the NHL, as the team was coming off of a 29–42–8–3 record in the 2002–03 season, earning 69 points, finishing in last place in the Western Conference for the 2nd straight year.
==Off-season==
Columbus would undergo some changes during the off-season, as leading scorer and team captain, Ray Whitney, would leave the Blue Jackets and sign with the Detroit Red Wings. The Jackets would name veteran defenceman Luke Richardson to become the 3rd captain in club history.
==Regular season==
The Blue Jackets would get off to a solid start in 2003–04, winning 3 of their first 4 games, however, the club would go on a 7 game losing streak, and fall quickly out of playoff contention. Columbus would continue to struggle, and GM/Head Coach Doug MacLean announced on January 1, 2004, that he would step down from head coaching duties and hire Jackets assistant coach and former NHL player Gerard Gallant to replace him. Columbus had a 9–21–4–3 under MacLean. While the Blue Jackets would play better hockey with Gallant behind the bench, the team would fail once again to earn a playoff spot, as they finished the season with a 25–45–8–4 record, earning 62 points, which was 7 fewer than the previous season, and finish 29 points the Nashville Predators for the 8th and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Columbus, though, climbed out of the basement in the Central Division for the 1st time in club history, as they finished ahead of the Chicago Blackhawks.
Rick Nash had a memorable season, finishing in a 3 way tie with Ilya Kovalchuk from the Atlanta Thrashers and Jarome Iginla from the Calgary Flames to win the Rocket Richard Trophy, awarded to the player who scored the most goals during the season. Nash scored a club record 41 goals, and had a club best 57 points. David Vyborny led the Blue Jackets with 31 assists and finished 2nd to Nash with 53 points. Rookie Nikolai Zherdev had 34 points in 57 games. On the blueline, Anders Eriksson led the Jackets with 27 points, while Jaroslav Spacek contributed with 22 points in only 58 games. Jody Shelley provided the team toughness, earning a team high 228 penalty minutes.
In goal, Marc Denis was the go to guy, playing in a team high 66 games, winning 21 of them, posting a team best 2.56 GAA, and earning 5 shutouts along the way.
===Season standings===
===Game log===
# 	Date 	Visitor 	Score	Home 	Record 	Pts
1 	October 9 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	1–2 	Atlanta Thrashers 	0–1–0–0 	0
2 	October 11 	New York Rangers 	0–5 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	1–1–0–0 	2
3 	October 13 	Vancouver Canucks 	2–3 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	2–1–0–0 	4
4 	October 16 	Chicago Blackhawks 	1–2 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	3–1–0–0 	6
5 	October 18 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	2–3 	Nashville Predators 	3–2–0–0 	6
6 	October 22 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	1–4 	Detroit Red Wings 	3–3–0–0 	6
7 	October 23 	Tampa Bay Lightning 	1–0 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	3–4–0–0 	6
8 	October 25 	Dallas Stars 	3–2 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	3–5–0–0 	6
9 	October 28 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	3–6 	Vancouver Canucks 	3–6–0–0 	6
10	October 30 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	3–4 	Edmonton Oilers 	3–6–0–1 	7
11	November 1 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	0–3 	Calgary Flames 	3–7–0–1 	7
12	November 7 	Atlanta Thrashers 	2–4 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	4–7–0–1 	9
13	November 9 	Calgary Flames 	3–4 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	5–7–0–1 	11
14	November 11	Columbus Blue Jackets 	1–1 	Montreal Canadiens 	5–7–1–1 	12
15	November 13	Columbus Blue Jackets 	2–5 	Ottawa Senators 	5–8–1–1 	12
16	November 14	Boston Bruins 	4–0 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	5–9–1–1 	12
17	November 16	Phoenix Coyotes 	2–2 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	5–9–2–1 	13
18	November 19	Columbus Blue Jackets 	1–5 	Detroit Red Wings 	5–10–2–1 	13
19	November 20	Detroit Red Wings 	0–3 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	6–10–2–1 	15
20	November 22	New York Islanders 	1–2 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	7–10–2–1 	17
21	November 25	Edmonton Oilers 	3–3 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	7–10–3–1 	18
22	November 26	Columbus Blue Jackets 	2–4 	Nashville Predators 	7–11–3–1 	18
23	November 29	Washington Capitals 	5–3 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	7–12–3–1 	18
24	December 2 	Mighty Ducks of Anaheim	1–2 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	8–12–3–1 	20
25	December 4 	Nashville Predators 	4–2 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	8–13–3–1 	20
26	December 6 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	1–5 	Colorado Avalanche 	8–14–3–1 	20
27	December 10	Philadelphia Flyers 	1–1 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	8–14–4–1 	21
28	December 12	St. Louis Blues 	3–2 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	8–14–4–2 	22
29	December 13	Columbus Blue Jackets 	3–5 	Pittsburgh Penguins 	8–15–4–2 	22
30	December 16	Columbus Blue Jackets 	1–2 	St. Louis Blues 	8–15–4–3 	23
31	December 19	Calgary Flames 	2–1 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	8–16–4–3 	23
32	December 20	Columbus Blue Jackets 	2–5 	Minnesota Wild 	8–17–4–3 	23
33	December 23	Phoenix Coyotes 	2–1 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	8–18–4–3 	23
34	December 26	Columbus Blue Jackets 	4–1 	Chicago Blackhawks 	9–18–4–3 	25
35	December 27	Dallas Stars 	4–3 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	9–19–4–3 	25
36	December 29	St. Louis Blues 	3–2 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	9–20–4–3 	25
37	December 31	San Jose Sharks 	1–0 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	9–21–4–3 	25
38	January 2 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	2–0 	Tampa Bay Lightning 	10–21–4–3	27
39	January 3 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	0–1 	Florida Panthers 	10–22–4–3	27
40	January 6 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	0–6 	Colorado Avalanche 	10–23–4–3	27
41	January 8 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	3–2 	San Jose Sharks 	11–23–4–3	29
42	January 10 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	2–2 	Los Angeles Kings 	11–23–5–3	30
43	January 11 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	2–2 	Mighty Ducks of Anaheim	11–23–6–3	31
44	January 15 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	3–5 	St. Louis Blues 	11–24–6–3	31
45	January 16 	Los Angeles Kings 	2–3 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	12–24–6–3	33
46	January 18 	Edmonton Oilers 	4–4 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	12–24–7–3	34
47	January 21 	St. Louis Blues 	1–3 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	13–24–7–3	36
48	January 22 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	0–7 	Chicago Blackhawks 	13–25–7–3	36
49	January 24 	Chicago Blackhawks 	3–4 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	14–25–7–3	38
50	January 27 	New Jersey Devils 	4–3 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	14–26–7–3	38
51	January 29 	Nashville Predators 	6–4 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	14–27–7–3	38
52	January 31 	Minnesota Wild 	1–2 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	15–27–7–3	40
53	February 2 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	3–3 	Phoenix Coyotes 	15–27–8–3	41
54	February 4 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	0–1 	Dallas Stars 	15–28–8–3	41
55	February 11	Los Angeles Kings 	2–3 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	16–28–8–3	43
56	February 12	Columbus Blue Jackets 	1–4 	Toronto Maple Leafs 	16–29–8–3	43
57	February 14	San Jose Sharks 	2–1 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	16–29–8–4	44
58	February 16	Nashville Predators 	2–4 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	17–29–8–4	46
59	February 18	Columbus Blue Jackets 	1–3 	Mighty Ducks of Anaheim	17–30–8–4	46
60	February 20	Columbus Blue Jackets 	2–3 	Phoenix Coyotes 	17–31–8–4	46
61	February 21	Columbus Blue Jackets 	3–4 	Los Angeles Kings 	17–32–8–4	46
62	February 23	Columbus Blue Jackets 	2–4 	San Jose Sharks 	17–33–8–4	46
63	February 25	Chicago Blackhawks 	4–3 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	17–34–8–4	46
64	February 27	Columbus Blue Jackets 	4–3 	Chicago Blackhawks 	18–34–8–4	48
65	February 28	Colorado Avalanche 	4–5 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	19–34–8–4	50
66	March 2 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	3–0 	Carolina Hurricanes 	20–34–8–4	52
67	March 3 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	2–4 	Dallas Stars 	20–35–8–4	52
68	March 6 	Vancouver Canucks 	4–0 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	20–36–8–4	52
69	March 8 	Carolina Hurricanes 	4–1 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	20–37–8–4	52
70	March 11 	Detroit Red Wings 	4–2 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	20–38–8–4	52
71	March 13 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	3–5 	St. Louis Blues 	20–39–8–4	52
72	March 14 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	2–3 	Minnesota Wild 	20–40–8–4	52
73	March 16 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	2–3 	Edmonton Oilers 	20–41–8–4	52
74	March 18 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	0–2 	Calgary Flames 	20–42–8–4	52
75	March 21 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	5–4 	Vancouver Canucks 	21–42–8–4	54
76	March 24 	Minnesota Wild 	0–2 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	22–42–8–4	56
77	March 26 	Mighty Ducks of Anaheim	1–3 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	23–42–8–4	58
78	March 27 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	3–2 	Nashville Predators 	24–42–8–4	60
79	March 29 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	0–6 	Buffalo Sabres 	24–43–8–4	60
80	March 31 	Detroit Red Wings 	3–2 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	24–44–8–4	60
81	April 2 	Colorado Avalanche 	4–2 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	24–45–8–4	60
82	April 3 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	4–1 	Detroit Red Wings 	25–45–8–4	62
*Green background indicates a win. 
*Red background indicates a regulation loss. 
*Yellow background indicates an overtime loss. 
*White background indicates a tie.
==Player stats==
===Regular season===
;Scoring
Player	Pos	GP	G 	A 	Pts	PIM	+/-	PPG	SHG	GWG
 	LW 	80	41	16	57 	87 	-35	19 	0 	7
 	RW 	82	22	31	53 	40 	-26	8 	4 	2
 	W 	57	13	21	34 	54 	-11	5 	0 	1
 	C 	77	9 	25	34 	34 	-17	4 	0 	2
 	RW 	73	15	17	32 	16 	-12	4 	0 	1
 	LW 	67	13	16	29 	34 	-9 	5 	0 	1
 	D 	66	7 	20	27 	18 	-6 	2 	0 	1
 	C 	58	6 	20	26 	26 	-24	2 	0 	0
 	C 	56	12	13	25 	24 	-5 	1 	0 	2
 	D 	58	5 	17	22 	45 	-13	2 	1 	2
 	C 	68	9 	9 	18 	63 	-19	2 	0 	3
 	D 	49	2 	13	15 	26 	-19	1 	0 	0
 	D 	47	2 	11	13 	27 	-16	0 	0 	1
 	C 	57	2 	8 	10 	20 	-6 	0 	0 	0
 	D 	27	1 	8 	9 	22 	-6 	1 	0 	0
 	D 	29	2 	6 	8 	32 	-2 	0 	0 	1
 	C 	29	2 	6 	8 	16 	-8 	0 	0 	0
 	D 	34	0 	7 	7 	39 	-15	0 	0 	0
 	LW 	76	3 	3 	6 	228	-10	1 	0 	0
 	D 	64	1 	5 	6 	48 	-11	0 	0 	1
 	C 	9 	1 	3 	4 	6 	-2 	1 	0 	0
 	C 	14	0 	4 	4 	2 	-5 	0 	0 	0
 	D 	77	0 	4 	4 	44 	-23	0 	0 	0
 	RW 	19	1 	2 	3 	16 	-7 	0 	0 	0
 	RW 	50	1 	2 	3 	98 	-3 	0 	0 	0
 	RW 	29	1 	2 	3 	36 	-7 	0 	0 	0
 	LW 	9 	2 	0 	2 	6 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	C 	2 	1 	1 	2 	2 	-1 	0 	0 	0
 	G 	66	0 	2 	2 	10 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	D 	24	0 	2 	2 	8 	-12	0 	0 	0
 	C 	19	1 	0 	1 	12 	-5 	0 	0 	0
 	C 	13	1 	0 	1 	2 	-4 	0 	0 	0
 	C 	4 	1 	0 	1 	0 	-1 	0 	0 	0
 	LW 	9 	0 	1 	1 	20 	-3 	0 	0 	0
 	D 	8 	0 	1 	1 	6 	-4 	0 	0 	0
 	G 	21	0 	0 	0 	2 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	D 	16	0 	0 	0 	12 	-3 	0 	0 	0
 	D 	2 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	G 	2 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	C 	6 	0 	0 	0 	4 	-2 	0 	0 	0
 	RW 	2 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	LW 	3 	0 	0 	0 	0 	-2 	0 	0 	0
 	D 	7 	0 	0 	0 	2 	-2 	0 	0 	0
;Goaltending
Player	MIN 	GP	W 	L 	T/OT	GA 	GAA 	SO	SA 	SV 	SV%
 	3796	66	21	36	7 	162	2.56	5 	1970	1808	.918
 	1050	21	4 	11	1 	59 	3.37	0 	574 	515 	.897
 	119 	2 	0 	2 	0 	7 	3.53	0 	69 	62 	.899
Team: 	4965	82	25	49	8 	228	2.76	5 	2613	2385	.913
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/- = Plus/Minus; PIM = Penalty Minutes; PPG=Power-play goals; SHG=Short-handed goals; GWG=Game-winning goals
      MIN=Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T/OT = Ties/Overtime Losses; GA = Goals Against; GAA = Goals Against Average; SO = Shutouts; SA=Shots Against; SV=Shots saved; SV% = Save Percentage; 
==Draft picks==
Columbus' draft picks at the 2003 NHL Entry Draft:
Round	# 	Player 	Nationality	College/Junior/Club Team (League)
1 	4 	Nikolai Zherdev 	 	HC CSKA Moscow (Russia)
2 	46 	Dan Fritsche 	 	Sarnia Sting (OHL)
3 	71 	Dmitry Kosmachev	 	HC CSKA Moscow (Russia)
4 	103	Kevin Jarman 	 	Stouffville Spirit (OPJHL)
4 	104	Philippe Dupuis 	 	Hull Olympiques (QMJHL)
5 	138	Arsi Piispanen 	 	Jokerit (Finland)
6 	168	Marc Methot 	 	London Knights (OHL)
7 	200	Alexander Guskov	 	Locomotiv Yaroslavl (Russia)
8 	233	Mathieu Gravel 	 	Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL)
9 	283	Trevor Hendrikx 	 	Peterborough Petes (OHL)
==References==
*SHRP Sports
*The Internet Hockey Database
*National Hockey League Guide & Record Book 2007
Category:Columbus Blue Jackets seasons
Category:2003 in hockey
Category:2004 in hockey