COLUMBUS, Ohio — For the second 25th Anniversary Celebration game, held on Nov. 15 when the New York Rangers come to Columbus, the team will honor five former players: goaltender Marc Denis, forwards David Vyborny, Matt Calvert and Brandon Dubinsky, and defenseman Aaron Johnson.
What You Need To Know
For the second 25th Anniversary Celebration game, held on Nov. 15 when the New York Rangers come to Columbus, the team will honor five former players
Season ticket holders will have an exclusive opportunity to attend a private luncheon with the alumni on Friday, Nov. 14
Additional 25th Anniversary Celebration games will be held on Dec. 13, Jan. 24 and March 21
Denis, a member of the Blue Jacket’s inaugural team, went 84-146-25 with a 3.01 goals-against average, .904 save percentage and 12 shutouts in 266 games with the club from 2000 to 2006. He registered the first home win in franchise history on Oct. 27, 2000, when he made 32 saves to beat Washington 3-1.
He set a then-NHL record for minutes played in 2002-2003 at 4,511 when he went 27-41-8 with a 3.09 GAA, .903 SV% and five SO. Denis played 77 games that season and is tied for third-most by a goaltender in a single season in league history. Over 11 seasons, he appeared in 349 career NHL games for Columbus, Colorado, Tampa Bay and Montreal before retiring after the 2008-09 season.
Another member of the inaugural team being recognized is Vyborny, who spent seven seasons in Columbus from 2000 to 2008. He continues to rank among the CBJ franchise leaders in goals (7th-113), assists (3rd-204), points (6th-317) and games played (8th-543).
Vyborny was the club’s first player to record three-straight seasons with 20 or more goals (2002-03, 2003-04, 2005-06) and his four career penalty shot goals are tied for fifth in NHL history. He shares the club record for most points in a game and won five IIHF World Championship gold medals and a bronze medal at the 2006 Olympic Games with the country.
He was elected to the International Ice Hockey Federation Hall of Fame this year.
The third former player being recognized is Calvert, who registered 72-77-149 and 273 penalty minutes (PIM) in 416 games as a Blue Jacket in eight campaigns from 2010 to 2018. He was selected by the Blue Jackets in the fifth round, 127th overall, of the 2008 NHL Draft. Throughout his career, he added 6-4-10 and 12 PIM with a +10 plus/minus rating in 16 career playoff games with the team and scored the first postseason game-winning goal in franchise history.
Calvert played in 566 NHL games between 2010-21 and racked up 95-108-203 and 376 PIM with Columbus and Colorado.
Meanwhile, Dubinsky spent seven seasons with the team from 2012 to 2019, tallying 72-153-225 and 448 PIM in 430 games with the club. He ranks among the franchise leaders in hits (3rd-1,225), penalty minutes (7th), points (9th) and assists (10th). Dubinsky came to Columbus as part of the Rick Nash trade in July 2012 and finished his 13-year NHL career with 153-285-438 and 905 penalty minutes in 823 games with the Blue Jackets and Rangers.
The final player joining the celebration is Johnson, who was selected by the club in the third round, 85th overall, at the 2001 NHL Draft. He collected 10-32-42 and 119 penalty minutes in 172 games over two stints with the club from 2003 to 2007 and 2011-12.
Johnson had 291 career NHL games, during which he registered 17-45-62 and 227 PIM with the Blue Jackets, Islanders, Blackhawks, Flames, Oilers and Bruins. He played professionally in Germany and England before joining the club’s operations department in 2021.
Season ticket holders will have an exclusive opportunity to attend a private luncheon with the alumni on Friday, Nov. 14. Players will participate in an autograph session beginning at 6 p.m. on the Nationwide Arena concourse.
Additional 25th Anniversary Celebration games will be held on Dec. 13 against the Vegas Golden Knights; Saturday, Jan. 24 against the Tampa Bay Lightning and Saturday, March 21 against the Seattle Kraken.