2015–16 Columbus Blue Jackets season

The 2015–16 Columbus Blue Jackets season was the 16th season for the National Hockey League (NHL) franchise that was established on June 25, 1997. Columbus hired head coach John Tortorella following the firing of Todd Richards, who started the season 0–8–0. The team began its regular season games on October 9, 2015 against the New York Rangers.

Regular season After a seven game losing streak to start the season, the Blue Jackets fired head coach Todd Richards and hired John Tortorella on October 21.John Tortorella replaces Todd Richards as Blue Jackets head coach

Standings

Schedule and results

Pre-season 2015 pre-season game log: 5–2–1 (home: 2–1–1; road: 3–1–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Recap 1 September 21 Pittsburgh 1–0 Columbus SO Korpisalo 11,363 0–0–1 Recap 2 September 22 St. Louis 1–3 Columbus Bobrovsky 10,064 1–0–1 Recap 3 September 22 Columbus 2–5 St. Louis McElhinney 10,388 1–1–1 Recap 4 September 24 Minnesota 5–2 Columbus Forsberg 10,209 1–2–1 Recap 5 September 26 Columbus 4–2 Pittsburgh Bobrovsky 18,265 2–2–1 Recap 6 September 29 Columbus 5–2 Nashville Bobrovsky 16,027 3–2–1 Recap 7 October 2 Columbus 6–4 Buffalo McElhinney 17,578 4–2–1 Recap 8 October 3 Nashville 1–7 Columbus Bobrovsky 13,795 5–2–1 Recap – indicates split-squad game.

Regular season 2015–16 game log October: 2–10–0 (home: 0–5–0; road: 2–5–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 1 October 9 NY Rangers 4–2 Columbus Bobrovsky 19,027 0–1–0 0 Recap 2 October 10 Columbus 2–5 NY Rangers Bobrovsky 18,006 0–2–0 0 Recap 3 October 12 Columbus 2–4 Buffalo Bobrovsky 18,075 0–3–0 0 Recap 4 October 14 Ottawa 7–3 Columbus Bobrovsky 13,803 0–4–0 0 Recap 5 October 16 Toronto 6–3 Columbus Bobrovsky 13,885 0–5–0 0 Recap 6 October 17 Columbus 1–4 Chicago McElhinney 21,563 0–6–0 0 Recap 7 October 20 NY Islanders 4–0 Columbus McElhinney 14,295 0–7–0 0 Recap 8 October 22 Columbus 2–3 Minnesota Bobrovsky 18,650 0–8–0 0 Recap 9 October 24 Columbus 4–3 Colorado Bobrovsky 18,007 1–8–0 2 Recap 10 October 27 Columbus 3–1 New Jersey Bobrovsky 12,847 2–8–0 4 Recap 11 October 30 Columbus 1–2 Washington Bobrovsky 18,506 2–9–0 4 Recap 12 October 31 Winnipeg 3–2 Columbus Bobrovsky 12,860 2–10–0 4 Recap November: 8–5–0 (home: 4–2–0; road: 4–3–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 13 November 3 Columbus 5–2 San Jose Bobrovsky 15,491 3–10–0 6 Recap 14 November 5 Columbus 3–2 Los Angeles Bobrovsky 18,230 4–10–0 8 Recap 15 November 6 Columbus 2–4 Anaheim McElhinney 17,174 4–11–0 8 Recap 16 November 10 Vancouver 5–3 Columbus Bobrovsky 14,148 4–12–0 8 Recap 17 November 13 Columbus 2–1 Pittsburgh Bobrovsky 18,610 5–12–0 10 Recap 18 November 14 Arizona 2–5 Columbus Bobrovsky 13,702 6–12–0 12 Recap 19 November 17 St. Louis 1–3 Columbus Bobrovsky 12,161 7–12–0 14 Recap 20 November 19 Columbus 0–3 Ottawa McElhinney 16,925 7–13–0 14 Recap 21 November 20 Nashville 0–4 Columbus Bobrovsky 13,584 8–13–0 16 Recap 22 November 22 San Jose 5–3 Columbus Bobrovsky 13,397 8–14–0 16 Recap 23 November 25 Columbus 2–1 New Jersey Bobrovsky 13,567 9–14–0 18 Recap 24 November 27 Pittsburgh 1–2 Columbus OT Bobrovsky 18,205 10–14–0 20 Recap 25 November 28 Columbus 1–3 St. Louis Bobrovsky 19,227 10–15–0 20 Recap December: 4–7–3 (home: 2–1–3; road: 2–6–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 26 December 1 Columbus 1–2 Montreal Bobrovsky 21,288 10–16–0 20 Recap 27 December 4 Florida 2–1 Columbus SO Bobrovsky 14,162 10–16–1 21 Recap 28 December 5 Columbus 4–1 Philadelphia Bobrovsky 18,202 11–16–1 23 Recap 29 December 8 Los Angeles 3–2 Columbus OT Bobrovsky 15,633 11–16–2 24 Recap 30 December 10 Columbus 4–6 Winnipeg McElhinney 15,294 11–17–2 24 Recap 31 December 12 NY Islanders 3–2 Columbus OT McElhinney 12,342 11–17–3 25 Recap 32 December 14 Tampa Bay 2–1 Columbus Korpisalo 12,494 11–18–3 25 Recap 33 December 15 Columbus 1–5 Dallas Korpisalo 18,232 11–19–3 25 Recap 34 December 17 Columbus 7–5 Arizona McElhinney 11,120 12–19–3 27 Recap 35 December 19 Philadelphia 2–3 Columbus SO Korpisalo 14,030 13–19–3 29 Recap 36 December 21 Columbus 2–5 Pittsburgh Korpisalo 18,602 13–20–3 29 Recap 37 December 26 Columbus 2–5 Tampa Bay Korpisalo 19,092 13–21–3 29 Recap 38 December 27 Columbus 2–3 Florida McElhinney 16,902 13–22–3 29 Recap 39 December 29 Dallas 3–6 Columbus McElhinney 15,836 14–22–3 31 Recap January: 5–5–2 (home: 3–3–1; road: 2–2–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 40 January 2 Washington 4–5 Columbus SO Forsberg 17,170 15–22–3 33 Recap 41 January 5 Minnesota 4–2 Columbus Forsberg 12,411 15–23–3 33 Recap 42 January 8 Columbus 1–4 Carolina Forsberg 14,241 15–24–3 33 Recap 43 January 9 Carolina 4–3 Columbus OT Korpisalo 16,532 15–24–4 34 Recap 44 January 12 Columbus 2–5 NY Islanders Forsberg 13,115 15–25–4 34 Recap 45 January 13 Columbus 3–1 Toronto Korpisalo 18,903 16–25–4 36 Recap 46 January 16 Colorado 1–2 Columbus Korpisalo 17,776 17–25–4 38 Recap 47 January 19 Washington 6–3 Columbus Bobrovsky 12,291 17–26–4 38 Recap 48 January 21 Calgary 4–2 Columbus Bobrovsky 12,492 17–27–4 38 Recap 49 January 23 Columbus 2–3 Boston SO Korpisalo 17,565 17–27–5 39 Recap 50 January 25 Montreal 2–5 Columbus Korpisalo 11,927 18–27–5 41 Recap 51 January 26 Columbus 5–2 Montreal Korpisalo 21,288 19–27–5 43 Recap February: 7–3–3 (home: 4–1–2; road: 3–2–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 52 February 2 Columbus 1–5 Edmonton Korpisalo 16,839 19–28–5 43 Recap 53 February 4 Columbus 2–1 Vancouver SO Korpisalo 18,199 20–28–5 45 Recap 54 February 5 Columbus 2–1 Calgary Korpisalo 19,289 21–28–5 47 Recap 55 February 9 NY Islanders 3–2 Columbus SO Korpisalo 14,303 21–28–6 48 Recap 56 February 11 Anaheim 3–4 Columbus SO Korpisalo 12,117 22–28–6 50 Recap 57 February 13 Ottawa 2–4 Columbus Korpisalo 16,164 23–28–6 52 Recap 58 February 16 Boston 2–1 Columbus OT Korpisalo 13,140 23–28–7 53 Recap 59 February 19 Buffalo 4–0 Columbus Korpisalo 14,923 23–29–7 53 Recap 60 February 22 Columbus 6–4 Boston Korpisalo 17,565 24–29–7 55 Recap 61 February 23 Columbus 1–2 Detroit SO McElhinney 20,027 24–29–8 56 Recap 62 February 25 New Jersey 1–6 Columbus Korpisalo 12,590 25–29–8 58 Recap 63 February 27 Florida 3–4 Columbus SO Korpisalo 15,400 26–29–8 60 Recap 64 February 29 Columbus 1–2 NY Rangers Korpisalo 18,006 26–30–8 60 Recap March: 4–9–0 (home: 4–4–0; road: 0–5–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 65 March 4 Edmonton 3–6 Columbus Korpisalo 16,789 27–30–8 62 Recap 66 March 5 Columbus 0–6 Philadelphia McElhinney 19,645 27–31–8 62 Recap 67 March 8 Detroit 3–5 Columbus Korpisalo 14,426 28–31–8 64 Recap 68 March 11 Pittsburgh 3–2 Columbus Bobrovsky 18,205 28–32–8 64 Recap 69 March 13 Tampa Bay 4–0 Columbus Bobrovsky 14,701 28–33–8 64 Recap 70 March 17 Detroit 3–1 Columbus Bobrovsky 14,415 28–34–8 64 Recap 71 March 19 New Jersey 3–6 Columbus Bobrovsky 14,447 29–34–8 66 Recap 72 March 20 Columbus 1–2 New Jersey Korpisalo 15,146 29–35–8 66 Recap 73 March 22 Philadelphia 2–3 Columbus SO Bobrovsky 16,230 30–35–8 68 Recap 74 March 24 Carolina 3–2 Columbus Bobrovsky 15,624 30–36–8 68 Recap 75 March 26 Columbus 1–5 Nashville Korpisalo 17,113 30–37–8 68 Recap 76 March 28 Columbus 1–4 Washington Bobrovsky 18,506 30–38–8 68 Recap 77 March 31 Columbus 3–4 NY Islanders Bobrovsky 13,857 30–39–8 68 Recap April: 4–1–0 (home: 1–1–0; road: 3–0–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 78 April 2 Columbus 5–1 Carolina Korpisalo 11,542 31–39–8 70 Recap 79 April 4 NY Rangers 4–2 Columbus Korpisalo 15,951 31–40–8 70 Recap 80 April 6 Columbus 5–1 Toronto Bobrovsky 18,837 32–40–8 72 Recap 81 April 8 Columbus 4–1 Buffalo Korpisalo 19,070 33–40–8 74 Recap 82 April 9 Chicago 4–5 Columbus OT Bobrovsky 19,177 34–40–8 76 RecapLegend:

Player statistics Final stats Skaters

Regular season Player 78 31 22 53 1 14 81 27 26 53 −8 22 82 30 19 49 −15 77 79 23 26 49 −11 112 75 17 31 48 −16 71 69 8 32 40 −1 2 72 12 25 37 −14 53 ‡ 38 6 20 26 −4 25 65 4 21 25 −7 45 82 4 21 25 −10 40 73 11 13 24 1 51 81 9 11 20 −9 6 † 41 2 18 20 −9 12 60 6 8 14 −16 25 82 3 8 11 −6 78 64 3 6 9 −6 102 32 2 7 9 5 15 12 4 4 8 6 0 49 3 5 8 −9 38 43 1 7 8 −3 20 ‡ 27 1 7 8 10 21 23 2 2 4 −8 23 12 1 3 4 0 2 24 0 4 4 2 17 61 1 2 3 −6 28 30 1 2 3 −3 61 8 1 1 2 3 5 ‡ 16 0 2 2 −6 8 3 0 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 −2 0 1 0 0 0 0 4 4 0 0 0 −2 0 8 0 0 0 9 0

Goaltenders Regular season Player 37 37 2,116 15 19 1 97 2.75 1049 .908 1 0 2 2 31 30 1,803 16 11 4 78 2.60 969 .920 0 0 0 2 18 12 835 2 7 3 46 3.31 417 .890 0 0 1 0 4 3 178 1 3 0 9 3.03 97 .907 0 0 0 0

†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining the Blue Jackets. Statistics reflect time with the Blue Jackets only. ‡Denotes player was traded mid-season. Statistics reflect time with the Blue Jackets only. Bold/italics denotes franchise record.

Player suspensions/fines Player Explanation Length Salary Date issued Brandon Dubinsky Cross-checking Pittsburgh Penguins forward Sidney Crosby during NHL game No. 337 in Columbus on Friday, November 27, 2015, at 18:40 of the second period. 1 game $31,451.61 November 28, 2015

Awards and honours

Awards

Regular season Player Award Awarded NHL All-Star game selection January 6, 2016 NHL Second Star of the Week February 1, 2016

Milestones

Regular season Player Milestone Reached 600th career NHL point October 16, 2015 200th career NHL game November 3, 2015 100th career NHL assist November 3, 2015 500th career NHL game November 17, 2015 100th career NHL game November 22, 2015 1st career NHL game November 28, 2015 R. Johansen 300th career NHL game December 12, 2015 600th career NHL game December 12, 2015 1st career NHL game December 14, 2015 J. Korpisalo 1st career NHL win December 19, 2015

Transactions The Blue Jackets have been involved in the following transactions during the 2015–16 season.

Trades

DateRef June 26, 2015 To Toronto Maple Leafs TOR's 2nd-round pick in 2015PHI's 3rd-round pick in 2015 To Columbus Blue Jackets TBL's 1st-round pick in 2015 June 30, 2015 To Chicago Blackhawks Artem AnisimovMarko DanoJeremy MorinCorey Tropp4th-round pick in 2016 To Columbus Blue Jackets Brandon SaadMichael PaliottaAlex Broadhurst January 6, 2016 To Nashville Predators Ryan Johansen To Columbus Blue Jackets Seth Jones

Free agents acquired Date Player Former team Contract terms(in U.S. dollars) Ref July 1, 2015 Gregory Campbell Boston Bruins 2 years, $3 million July 2, 2015 Andrew Bodnarchuk Manchester Monarchs 1 year, $650,000 July 2, 2015 Brett Gallant Bridgeport Sound Tigers 2 years, $1.5 million July 2, 2015 Jaime Sifers Springfield Falcons 2 years, $1.25 million July 3, 2015 John Ramage Calgary Flames 1 year, $600,000 July 7, 2015 Kole Sherwood Youngstown Phantoms 3 years, entry-level contract October 1, 2015 Oleg Yevenko Adirondack Flames 1 year, entry-level contract March 21, 2016 Jordan Maletta Niagara IceDogs 3 years, entry-level contract April 15, 2016 Justin Scott Barrie Colts 3 years, entry-level contract

Free agents lost Date Player New team Contract terms(in U.S. dollars) Ref July 1, 2015 Mike Reilly Minnesota Wild 2 years, entry-level contract July 1, 2015 Mark Letestu Edmonton Oilers 3 years, $5.4 million July 1, 2015 Brian Gibbons New York Rangers 1 year, $600,000 July 1, 2015 Sean Collins Washington Capitals 1 year, $575,000 July 3, 2015 Luke Adam New York Rangers 1 year, $600,000 Jack Skille Colorado Avalanche 1 year

Claimed via waivers Player Previous team Date

Lost via waivers Player New team Date Andrew Bodnarchuk Colorado Avalanche January 5, 2016 Kevin Connauton Arizona Coyotes January 13, 2016

Player signings