With the departure of Nick Foligno, the Blue Jackets are left without a captain.
They've played seasons without one before, and it's not always the end of the world. However, naming a captain adds stability to the locker room, as long as it's the right choice. That's why teams may take a while to name a captain's successor after they depart.
One of the candidates that makes the most sense for the Blue Jackets is Boone Jenner. He's the longest-tenured Blue Jacket, and he just signed a four-year contract extension that will keep him in Columbus through the 2025-26 NHL season.
Earlier today, Jenner spoke with Dave McCarthy on NHL Network Radio about the vacant captaincy, and what it would mean to him if the Blue Jackets selected him as the next one.
"(Being named captain would be) a huge honor," Jenner said. "As a player, leadership's always something I take a lot of pride in. It's always kinda been part of my game, on the ice and off the ice with helping teammates and whatnot...I think I'm just gonna focus on what I can control and try to lead by example first and foremost."
Jenner has worn the "A" for the Blue Jackets for multiple seasons, and him donning the "C" would be the logical next step. His likely competition will be defenseman Zach Werenski, who signed a lucrative nine-year contract extension this offseason.
"I wanna push guys in camp and make sure we're all ready to go...(being captain) would be a huge honor," Jenner said. "(I've been) learning from other leaders that we've had. You're always trying to learn and grow in that aspect. I think I try to learn more and more about that role each and every year."
The Blue Jackets are not predicted to be among the teams competing for a playoff spot this season or beyond. With that in mind, Jenner could be a good choice for captain due to the Blue Jackets' current goal of developing the young talent they possess.
