Columbus Blue Jackets Make Historic First NHL Draft Pick

The Columbus Blue Jackets made their first NHL draft pick on June 24th, 2000, selecting Rostislav Klesla.

What happened on that day?

The team took part in their first Entry Draft in Calgary, Alberta, and left with 11 players.

They chose Klesla with the 4th overall pick from the Brampton Battalion of the OHL.

Who is Rostislav Klesla?

Klesla played in 8 games in the 2000-01 season before being sent back to his junior team.

He made the team full-time the next season, playing in 75 games with 8 goals and 16 points.

What was Klesla's career like?

Klesla played with the Jackets until 2011 when he was traded to the Phoenix Coyotes.

He played 3 more seasons in Phoenix before being placed on waivers and traded to the Washington Capitals and then the Buffalo Sabres.

Klesla finished his NHL career with a stat line of 48 goals and 159 points in 659 games.

The Columbus Blue Jackets are currently standing 11th in the Eastern Conference with a 40-30 record, on a L2 streak, as of June 25, 2026.

What comes next for the Columbus Blue Jackets?

The NHL Draft is on June 26 and 27 in Buffalo, where the CBJ will own pick #14.

The 2000 draft class is stacked with stars, including Rick DiPietro, Dany Heatley, and Niklas Kronwall.

Several players from that draft class played for the Columbus Blue Jackets, including Marion Gaborik, Raffi Torres, and Scott Hartnell.