Boone Jenner: Captain and Mentor?

It’s hard to believe Boone Jenner has been around since 2013. Seems like only yesterday he made his NHL debut for Columbus, but even back then, people knew he was going to be the captain of this team. Going into 2023-24. He sits 17 games behind Rick Nash all-time for games played in a CBJ uniform. He’s third all-time in goals with 170. Sixth all-time in assists (159) and after this next season, will break a tie with three others for most seasons played with the Blue Jackets with 11. Jenner is signed through 2026, so he will sit comfortably atop some of those records.

Jenner is not the flashiest, most skilled forward on the ice, but he has a job and does it very well. He has played center for the last few years out of necessity, but his true position is on the wing. The lack of a franchise center has forced Jenner to play on the top line, most recently with Johnny Gaudreau and Patrik Laine. Although he has played the part asked, he’s much better suited rumbling down the wing. And more importantly, he will protect his teammates. And during some years when it seemed almost no one on this team would do that, Jenner stepped up and did that job as well.

Jenner has done just about everything for this team in his career, but recently he’s been tasked to play center. He typically has a good faceoff % which is why you’ll routinely see him take the opening faceoff at the start of overtime, and then hustle off the ice so a skilled forward can jump on. The lack of a puck-moving, offensively skilled center has forced Jenner to play exclusively at the top of the lineup. Now while I’m sure Jenner loves playing with Gaudreau and Laine, he could be more valuable as the second- or third-line center, or even on the wing, but this is no secret to fans.

Last season he played in only 68 games, due to injury issues, something that has been a thorn in his side since the beginning of his career. But in those 68 games, we watched him score 26 goals and notch 45 points. The 26 goals were four off his career mark set in 15-16, and the 45 points were also four shy of that 15-16 season. So, while he was missing for 14 games, he played very well up top with Gaudreau, and whomever else played the wing. But in a season like they had in 22-23, somebody had to play well.

The Blue Jackets just drafted Adam Fantilli, the player everyone thinks can and will be the top center this franchise has craved for 23 years. What will Boone Jenner’s role be in all this? Jenner will most likely start at 1C, while Fantilli gets used to NHL life. How long will that take, who knows? But if I’m Fantilli, I’m becoming Jenner’s shadow. Jenner is a true professional, who knows how to play the game the right way and is pretty good at it. Fantilli already talks the talk, and most people think he’ll walk the walk as well.

In terms of on the ice, Fantilli had a faceoff % of over 50%, just like Jenner. But that was in college, now it’s time to take on the NHL centers who have become wizards at winning faceoffs. Fantilli is scrappy and won’t hesitate to mix it up with the other team, just like Jenner. They both stand 6-foot-2, they both play heavy, and will hit other players, and they both can score goals. These are similarities that are hard to overlook. Adam Fantilli should be learning as much as he can from Jenner. If you take these skills, and combine them with how gifted Fantilli is offensively, Fantilli could be an absolute force in the league.

New Head Coach Mike Babcock will most likely start Jenner at 1C and insulate Fantilli on the second or third line. Surrounding him with Jenner and Sean Kuraly. Those are not bad players to be around as a rookie, that’s for sure. But as the year ticks off, Fantilli will most likely find himself on the top line with Gaudreau and Laine, and he would be smart to keep learning from Jenner.

Boone Jenner has done everything he can for this franchise, and now he should add mentor to his resume. Adam Fantilli’s future, and the future success of the franchise will be better for it.

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