The 2007–08 Columbus Blue Jackets season began October 5, 2007. It was the Blue Jackets' eighth season in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Blue Jackets did not qualify for the 2008 Stanley Cup playoffs.
Key dates prior to the start of the season:
The 2007 NHL entry draft took place in Columbus, Ohio, on June 22–23 The free agency period began on July 1. The Blue Jackets played 8 preseason games starting September 16.
The Blue Jackets attempted to qualify for the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. Scott Howson was hired prior to the 2007 NHL entry draft as the second general manager in team history, replacing Doug MacLean.Columbus hires Howson as new GM, tsn.ca, June 13, 2007 The Blue Jackets finished with a 34–36–12 record, earning 80 points and missing the playoffs. The Blue Jackets finished fourth in the Central Division, finishing above the St. Louis Blues and 13th in the Western Conference. On March 16, 2008, Columbus set a franchise record for points in a season, 75, with a 4–3 win over the Detroit Red Wings in Columbus.
The Blue Jackets started off the season well with a 7–3–1 record in October, but falling behind in the Western Conference in November with a 4–7–3 record. During the All-star break, Rick Nash was selected to participate in the 2008 All-Star Game for the Western Conference. He scored a record-breaking goal just 12 seconds into the period. Nash scored three goals in the game, yet the Eastern Conference won the game 8–7. The Blue Jackets earned average records in December through February, staying within reach of a playoff spot. On February 26, Captain Adam Foote was traded to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for two draft picks. Rick Nash was named the new captain of the team. In March, the Blue Jackets' chances of playing in the post-season were fading away after a 4–6–3 record due to the injury of starting goaltender Pascal Leclaire. After being mathematically eliminated from making the playoffs, the Blue Jackets lost their last three games of the season.
Regular season
Divisional standings
Conference standings
Schedule and results
| 1 || October 5 || Anaheim || 0 – 4 || Columbus || || Leclaire || 17,852 || 1–0–0 || 2 ||
| 2 || October 6 || Columbus || 2 – 3 || Minnesota || || Norrena || 18,568 || 1–1–0 || 2 ||
| 3 || October 10 || Phoenix || 0 – 3 || Columbus || || Leclaire || 11,944 || 2–1–0 || 4 ||
| 4 || October 13 || Columbus || 1 – 5 || Colorado || || Leclaire || 16,153 || 2–2–0 || 4 ||
| 5 || October 17 || Dallas || 3 – 2 || Columbus || SO || Norrena || 11,820 || 2–2–1 || 5 ||
| 6 || October 19 || Columbus || 3 – 0 || Buffalo || || Leclaire || 18,690 || 3–2–1 || 7 ||
| 7 || October 21 || Vancouver || 4 – 1 || Columbus || || Leclaire || 12,667 || 3–3–1 || 7 ||
| 8 || October 23 || Columbus || 7 – 4 || Chicago || || Norrena || 10,884 || 4–3–1 || 9 ||
| 9 || October 25 || St. Louis || 0 – 3 || Columbus || || Leclaire || 12,786 || 5–3–1 || 11 ||
| 10 || October 27 || San Jose || 1 – 2 || Columbus || || Leclaire || 13,234 || 6–3–1 || 13 ||
| 11 || October 31 || Columbus || 4 – 1 || Los Angeles || || Leclaire || 11,491 || 7–3–1 || 15 ||
| 12 || November 1 || Columbus || 1 – 2 || Anaheim || SO || Norrena || 17,174 || 7–3–2 || 16 ||
| 13 || November 4 || St. Louis || 0 – 3 || Columbus || || Leclaire || 13,254 || 8–3–2 || 18 ||
| 14 || November 7 || Columbus || 2 – 5 || Chicago || || Norrena || 9,717 || 8–4–2 || 18 ||
| 15 || November 9 || Columbus || 1 – 4 || Detroit || || Leclaire || 18,654 || 8–5–2 || 18 ||
| 16 || November 10 || Columbus || 3 – 4 || Nashville || SO || Norrena || 15,947 || 8–5–3 || 19 ||
| 17 || November 12 || Nashville || 4 – 1 || Columbus || || Leclaire || 12,554 || 8–6–3 || 19 ||
| 18 || November 14 || Chicago || 2 – 4 || Columbus || || Leclaire || 13,622 || 9–6–3 || 21 ||
| 19 || November 16 || Columbus || 2 – 3 || St. Louis || || Norrena || 19,150 || 9–7–3 || 21 ||
| 20 || November 18 || Detroit || 5 – 4 || Columbus || SO || Leclaire || 15,503 || 9–7–4 || 22 ||
| 21 || November 21 || Florida || 5 – 2 || Columbus || || Leclaire || 13,326 || 9–8–4 || 22 ||
| 22 || November 23 || Columbus || 4 – 0 || Minnesota || || Leclaire || 18,568 || 10–8–4 || 24 ||
| 23 || November 24 || Detroit || 2 – 3 || Columbus || SO || Leclaire || 17,513 || 11–8–4 || 26 ||
| 24 || November 26 || Columbus || 1 – 3 || Edmonton || || Norrena || 16,839 || 11–9–4 || 26 ||
| 25 || November 29 || Columbus || 0 – 2 || Vancouver || || Norrena || 18,630 || 11–10–4 || 26 ||
| 26 || December 1 || Columbus || 4 – 3 || Calgary || OT || Norrena || 19,289 || 12–10–4 || 28 ||
| 27 || December 3 || Dallas || 2 – 1 || Columbus || SO || Leclaire || 12,233 || 12–10–5 || 29 ||
| 28 || December 5 || Colorado || 4 – 5 || Columbus || || Norrena || 12,851 || 13–10–5 || 31 ||
| 29 || December 8 || Minnesota || 2 – 1 || Columbus || || Leclaire || 15,666 || 13–11–5 || 31 ||
| 30 || December 10 || Anaheim || 4 – 3 || Columbus || OT || Leclaire || 11,984 || 13–11–6 || 32 ||
| 31 || December 12 || Colorado || 1 – 4 || Columbus || || Norrena || 13,150 || 14–11–6 || 34 ||
| 32 || December 15 || Columbus || 0 – 2 || Boston || || Norrena || 14,058 || 14–12–6 || 34 ||
| 33 || December 18 || Calgary || 3 – 0 || Columbus || || Leclaire|| 13,181 || 14–13–6 || 34 ||
| 34 || December 21 || Los Angeles ||1 – 2 || Columbus || ||Leclaire || 14,034 ||15–13–6 || 36 ||
| 35 || December 23 || Nashville || 3 – 1 || Columbus || || Norrena || 15,481 || 15–14–6 || 36 ||
| 36 || December 26 || Atlanta || 0 – 2 || Columbus || || Leclaire || 15,726 || 16–14–6 || 38 ||
| 37 || December 27 || Columbus || 3 – 4 || Nashville || || Norrena || 14,331 || 16–15–6 || 38 ||
| 38 || December 29 || Carolina || 1 – 4 || Columbus || || Leclaire || 17,453 || 17–15–6 || 40 ||
| 39 || December 31 || Edmonton || 2 – 4 || Columbus || || Leclaire || 16,774 || 18–15–6 || 42 ||
| 40 || January 2 || Columbus || 1 – 2 || Anaheim || || Leclaire || 17,174 || 18–16–6 || 42 ||
| 41 || January 3 || Columbus || 4 – 3 || Los Angeles || || Norrena || 14,173 || 19–16–6 || 44 ||
| 42 || January 5 || Columbus || 2 – 3 || San Jose || || Norrena || 17,496 || 19–17–6 || 44 ||
| 43 || January 8 || Columbus || 1 – 6 || St. Louis || || Norrena || 14,818 || 19–18–6 || 44 ||
| 44 || January 11 || St. Louis || 4 – 6 || Columbus || || Leclaire || 15,233 || 20–18–6 || 46 ||
| 45 || January 12 || Nashville || 1 – 2 || Columbus || SO || Leclaire || 16,230 || 21–18–6 || 48 ||
| 46 || January 15 || Vancouver || 2 – 3 || Columbus || || Leclaire || 13,555 || 22–18–6 || 50 ||
| 47 || January 17 || Columbus || 4 – 3 || Phoenix || || Leclaire || 11,114 || 23–18–6 || 52 ||
| 48 || January 19 || Columbus || 1 – 3 || Dallas || || Norrena || 17,811 || 23–19–6 || 52 ||
| 49 || January 20 || Columbus || 1 – 3 || Colorado || || Leclaire || 17,197 || 23–20–6 || 52 ||
| 50 || January 22 || Columbus || 4 – 2 || Dallas || || Leclaire || 17,087 || 24–20–6 || 54 ||
| 51 || January 24 || Columbus || 1 – 0 || Chicago || || Leclaire || 16,094 || 25–20–6 || 56 ||
| 52 || January 29 || Phoenix || 2 – 4 || Columbus || || Leclaire || 15,127 || 25–21–6 || 56 ||
| 53 || January 31 || Columbus || 2 – 4 || Nashville || || Leclaire || 13,745 || 25–22–6 || 56 ||
| 54 || February 2 || Minnesota || 4 – 1 || Columbus || || Norrena || 18,529 || 25–23–6 || 56 ||
| 55 || February 5 || Washington || 4 – 3 || Columbus || OT || Norrena || 14,450 || 25–23–7 || 57 ||
| 56 || February 7 || Columbus || 2 – 1 || Phoenix || || Norrena || 13,918 || 26–23–7 || 59 ||
| 57 || February 8 || Columbus || 1 – 2 || San Jose || OT || Norrena || 17,210 || 26–23–8 || 60 ||
| 58 || February 10 || Los Angeles || 3 – 2 || Columbus || SO || Leclaire || 15,823 || 26–23–9 || 61 ||
| 59 || February 13 || Chicago || 7 – 2 || Columbus || || Norrena || 14,918 || 26–24–9 || 61 ||
| 60 || February 15 || Columbus || 5 – 1 || Detroit || || Leclaire || 20,066 || 27–24–9 || 63 ||
| 61 || February 17 || Columbus || 1 – 5 || St. Louis || || Leclaire || 19,150 || 27–25–9 || 63 ||
| 62 || February 19 || Columbus || 1 – 3 || Toronto || || Leclaire || 19,347 || 27–26–9 || 63 ||
| 63 || February 21 || Columbus || 3 – 2 || Ottawa || SO || Leclaire || 19,612 || 28–26–9 || 65 ||
| 64 || February 23 || Columbus || 3 – 0 || Montreal || || Leclaire || 21,273 || 29–26–9 || 67 ||
| 65 || February 27 || San Jose || 4 – 2 || Columbus || || Leclaire || 16,029 || 29–27–9 || 67 ||
| 66 || February 29 || Columbus || 3 – 2 || Vancouver || OT || Leclaire || 18,630 || 30–27–9 || 69 ||
| 67 || March 2 || Columbus || 3 – 4 || Edmonton || SO || Leclaire || 16,839 || 30–27–10 || 70 ||
| 68 || March 4 || Columbus || 0 – 1 || Calgary || || Leclaire || 19,289 || 30–28–10 || 70 ||
| 69 || March 7 || Edmonton || 2 – 1 || Columbus || OT || Leclaire || 14,933 || 30–28–11 || 71 ||
| 70 || March 9 || Tampa Bay || 3 – 5 || Columbus || || Leclaire || 14,796 || 31–28–11 || 73 ||
| 71 || March 14 || Chicago || 6 – 3 || Columbus || || Norrena || 15,699 || 31–29–11 || 73 ||
| 72 || March 16 || Detroit || 3 – 4 || Columbus || || Norrena || 18,188 || 32–29–11 || 75 ||
| 73 || March 18 || Calgary || 0 – 3 || Columbus || || Norrena || 14,270 || 33–29–11 || 77 ||
| 74 || March 19 || Columbus || 1 – 3 || Detroit || || Norrena || 19,061 || 33–30–11 || 77 ||
| 75 || March 22 || Detroit || 4 – 1 || Columbus || || Norrena || 17,681 || 33–31–11 || 77 ||
| 76 || March 25 || Columbus ||0 – 3 || Nashville || || Norrena || 16,330 ||33–32–11 || 77 ||
| 77 || March 26 || Chicago || 0 – 4 || Columbus || || Norrena || 14,454 || 34–32–11 || 79 ||
| 78 || March 28 || Nashville ||2 – 0 || Columbus || ||Leclaire ||15,595 ||34–33–11 || 79 ||
| 79 || March 30 || Columbus || 4 – 5 || Chicago || SO || Norrena || 20,885 || 34–33–12 || 80 ||
| 80 || April 3 || Columbus || 2 – 3 || Detroit || || Leclaire || 19,435 || 34–34–12 || 80 ||
| 81 || April 5 || Columbus || 0 – 3 || St. Louis || || Leclaire || 19,150 || 34–35–12 || 80 ||
| 82 || April 6 || St. Louis || 4 – 1 || Columbus || || Norrena || 17,739 || 34–36–12 || 80 ||
Legend:
Player statistics
Regular season Scoring Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM +/- PPG SHG GWG LW 80 38 31 69 9521046 W 82 26 35 61 34-9703 C 65 8 26 34 64-1303 D 78 8 24 32 25-7800 LW 81 14 17 31 98-5113 C 71 11 18 29 34-3202 C 50 9 19 28 30-3501 RW 66 7 19 26 34-8200 C 69 10 12 22 222114 C 65 8 14 22 24-10100 D 82 6 12 18 607301 D 63 1 14 15 953010 D 81 0 13 13 6120000 C 36 6 6 12 253101 LW 23 6 6 12 201201 C 39 6 4 10 120000 RW 75 5 5 10 226-4003 D 67 2 8 10 14-12101 C 16 5 4 9 23200 D 19 2 7 9 12-5100 C 61 1 8 9 24-4001 C 25 3 4 7 140201 D 51 2 2 4 111-3010 D 23 1 3 4 30-10100 C 17 2 0 2 8-2000 C 17 1 1 2 6-4000 D 17 1 1 2 33-4000 D 7 1 1 2 23000 G 54 0 2 2 20000 G 37 0 1 1 00000 C 3 0 0 0 150000 G 1 0 0 0 00000 D 9 0 0 0 8-1000 LW 3 0 0 0 20000 RW 3 0 0 0 0-2000 LW 1 0 0 0 170000 LW 31 0 0 0 44-2000 Goaltending Player MIN GPW LT/OTGAGAA SO SA SV SV% 2986 54 24 17 6 112 2.25 913791267.919 1960 37 10 19 6 89 2.72 2856767.896 13 1 0 0 0 0 0.00 0551.000 Team: 4959 82 34 36 12 201 2.43 1122402039.910
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;
Awards and records
Records
Milestones