CBJ fan takeover: Our favorite Blue Jackets players

Over the past two decades, since the Blue Jackets made their debut and brought the highest level of pro hockey to Columbus in October 2000, the team's fans have time and again proved their dedication to CBJ hockey.

So during the month of June, we decided to turn over BlueJackets.com to the 5th Line. Each week, we'll ask a question of Blue Jackets fans and compile responses here in a story to run each Friday. It's a chance for the team diehards to show their passion as we all wait for hockey's return.

This week, the question is a simple one -- Who is your favorite Blue Jackets player of all-time and why? Some answers are edited for space and grammar, but otherwise, the voice of the fan comes through.

Next week's question is this -- What is your favorite piece of CBJ memorabilia? Send your answer (and pictures, too!) to [email protected] and you might be in next week's piece.

Take it away fans!

Who is your favorite Blue Jackets player of all-time and why?

Fawn Staten:My absolute favorite Columbus Blue Jacket is our current captain, Nick Foligno. My love began before he was even named the captain. It was solidified the night he scored the OT goal in our first-ever Stanley Cup playoff game win in Nationwide Arena against the much-disliked Pittsburgh Penguins. That night was electric!!!

That was the night that changed our lives. It changed everything. After that game we found a ticket rep and we signed up to be partial season ticket holders. Since that night our winter outings are Blue Jacket games. Our lives are planned around the season. From that night our season ticket plan has gotten bigger and our seats have gotten better. All because of THAT goal, THAT night, by our CAPTAIN!!!!

While Foligno has been captain, it has not been easy. From the year with the incredible amount of injuries, to the star players wanting out, to the difficult times with both Milana and Landon and their health, it has never been easy for him. Yet he has done with job with strength and wisdom.

My fiance and I consider Columbus the best city. We love this city, everything it has to offer, and the people in it. Nick represents Columbus to us. He loves our city also. From all he does for Children's Hospital, to his cheesy local commercials, to him standing up and saying if you don't want to be here, we don't want you here.

We love the Jackets and we consider Nick Foligno our captain and we are honored to cheer him on both on the ice and off the ice in our city.

Asnāte Grīnfogele: I'm from Riga, Latvia and I'm 15 years old. My favorite CBJ player is Elvis Merzlikins (what a surprise). Heres why:

1. He shows others to never give up, to keep going. Even in the start of the season, when things didn't go as well, he didn't give up. He worked even harder to be the best version of himself and the result was awesome. Seeing Elvis not give up makes me work even harder for things that I desire.

2. He's a really nice person. I've met him few times here in Riga and also Lugano. He really appriciates his fans, he takes time to ask how my day went and also take a photo of us together.

3. He proves that dreams come true. On different interviews he and his mom have talked about his childhood. It wasn't the brightest, they didn't have much money. If they didn't have much money and Elvis wanted to become a goalie, it was hard to manage money for food and basic things, and also for goalie equipment. Some parents would say to their kids, "Try something else, this is too expensive, we can't afford it." Elvis' mom fought every hard moment they had, she helped him develop. Elvis also showed his best result even though they lived poorly. Playing in the NHL was just a dream. But Elvis gave everything he had, he trained hard, he played hard and look where he is now -- one of the best this season's NHL goalkeeper. I'm proud of him. I'm happy that he spreads Latvia's name in the world.

Risa Warkentine: My favourite player to ever play for the Blue Jackets is probably a really common and easy pick, but Rick Nash. I live in western Canada, so being exposed to early Columbus hockey was something that'd only happen when they came over here or made the highlights. Every time they did, though, it was Nash pulling off some ridiculous move, or scoring an unassisted hat trick, or just generally being incredibly fun to watch. If it weren't for him, I don't think I'd be a Blue Jackets fan today.

Honourable mentions go to Espen Knutsen just for his amazing name and Cam Atkinson, who's the only player I own a jersey for.

Michael Nef:I am Swiss and grew up watching hockey in Switzerland. Then I moved to Columbus for 4½ years. I love hockey and I love Columbus and the Jackets.

So you see where this is going ... my favorite CBJ player has to be Dean Kukan. He was the first Swiss national to ever put on the Jackets' sweater and he was really confused when I talked Swiss-German to him at a STH event 1½ years ago. That's why he takes the cake ... but it's really Rick Nash. I mean, come on!

Madison McGough: My favorite player to ever wear a Blue Jackets jersey is Zach Werenski. There is no question about it. I have always loved him since my first Blue Jackets game back in December 2017.

I love how he plays and the way he carries himself. You know that he is a genuine and kind person just from interviews and what we all see him do for the community of Columbus. I've always been able to see who he is and what he is as a person. And I think that that's really cool that he is this star figure to a lot of people, but he's remained so grounded and caring through his career so far.

And for more on the hockey and NHL side of things, I just love to see him play. Whether it's in person at Nationwide Arena or on my couch he's the one I'm looking at and looking for when he's out on the ice. I love everything about him. I always have and always will. And plus he just got a super cute dog so that's an added bonus.

I may just be his biggest fan ever. And I am proud and lucky to say that I am Columbus Blue Jacket fan!

Austin Cable: My favorite player ever is Fedor Tyutin. I was a kid when we traded Nik Zherdev for Tyutin, as in, I was 5 years old. I thought Fedor's name was hilarious. I mean, it sounds like the word toot, so of course kindergarten me found humor in his name. Naturally, he became my favorite then.

Once I grew older, I learned the game of hockey. I was always drawn to the players who are leaders. Vinny Prospal, Brandon Dubinsky and Nick Foligno were some of my other favorites. I always felt Tyutin had that same leadership quality.

But Tyutin remained No. 1 because of my off-ice interactions with him. My family went to a season ticket holder event and ran into Tyutin, along with Jared Boll and a couple more players, in the elevator. Fedor was amazingly nice. Most players would just smile and continue the elevator ride, but Fedor started a conversation with me and my dad, and he signed my hat at the end of the ride. It was a simple experience that other probably have had, but as an 11-year-old, I adored it. It really set Tyutin in as my favorite player.

Adam Heldman: My favorite CBJ player of all time is Matt Calvert. He played his butt off every time he took the ice and I'll never forget the game against the Rangers where he needed a bunch of stitches and came back in the game and scored the game winning goal. He also had a knack for making a play when the team needed it. His numbers weren't big but it always seemed like the plays he made were.

Jacey Snyder:My favorite player is Joonas Korpisalo. I like him because not only is he really good, but he has also been extremely kind to me every time I've seen him.

Steve Copits: The easy answer is usually the one with most points, greatest speed or gifted talent. The essence of a Blue Jacket, and a style the team is told to play like, is the example given to us with No. 28, Tyler Wright. A never give up attitude and physical style of play made the whole team fun to watch and was key to what our identity was meant to be.

Frederick S. Cairo:My favorite Jacket is Cam Atkinson, he's my favorite because of how much loves the city and how he interacts with the fans. I even named my fur son after him, I love how he wants to stay here.

Alex Bates:My favorite Blue Jacket of all time is Matt Calvert. My friend Justin and I were sitting in Afghanistan in 2010 when we spontaneously became Blue Jackets fans and Matt Calvert's pure effort level and heart is what won us over.

He is the quintessential Blue Jacket ranging from defending the team against former captain Rick Nash to taking a puck to the head getting stitched up and coming back to win a game. He was and will remain an integral player in CBJ history because of his heart and hustle and coming up big in many playoff games to include the first-ever playoff win in franchise history.

Kristy Gaynor:My favorite player to put on a Blue Jackets jersey will always be Artemi Panarin. He is an elite, one-of-a-kind player with a fun personality and a unique background story and I will never forget what he brought to the team during his two years as a Blue Jacket.

It was really fun watching him play and his empty-net insurance goal to finish the sweep against Tampa Bay will always stand out. To be honest, he is what brought me to the Blue Jackets team. I was already a fan of his from Chicago so I'm originally a Blackhawks fan, but now thanks to him, I have two teams to cheer for. He may have left, but the Blue Jackets still have my heart.

My favorite current player is Nick Foligno. As a player, he gives everything his all on the ice and is the epitome of a leader and a captain. He is a genuinely kind human being and the most personable hockey player I have ever met.

Teresa Vu:This is a hard one! I'm going with Derick Brassard. I feel like everyone kind of forgot about him, but I think he's underrated. He was a first-round pick and did pretty well as a Jacket. Even though he had a bunch of injuries and was eventually traded, I still followed his career. I think the consistent thing he did throughout the different teams is that he was he always worked hard and was one of the most professional players in the league. He wasn't much of a goal scorer but he brought a different element on the ice. Honestly when there were rumorrs of him potentially coming back, I was all for it.