The Columbus Blue Jackets caught a stray dog out of nowhere this week. Noted sports media figure and Ringer founder Bill Simmons took a dig at the franchise during his recent Mailbag podcast, calling them the most irrelevant franchise in professional sports.
While going through a list of the most boring or irrelevant franchises in professional sports, Simmons rattled off a list of teams not worth talking about. By suggesting that the Chicago Bulls would be nothing without Michael Jordan, he ruled them out. The Cincinnati Reds qualified, but they won a championship in 1990. He mentioned a handful of others. But when it came to the NHL, the Blue Jackets took the prize.
He even suggested that they scored higher than anyone else in any sport. Simmons said:
“I haven’t heard a single conversation about the Blue Jackets. Granted, I don’t have that many hockey fans in my life, but I’ve never heard a single conversation about them.”
That comment has obviously made headlines in the NHL, and some Blue Jackets have been asked questions recently as it continues to gain traction online.
Star defenseman and current face of the franchise who dealt Zach Werenski his thoughts on Thursday. Werensky replied:
“Yeah, it doesn’t matter. It is what it is, I guess, right? I won’t lose any sleep over it. I love Columbus, I love playing there, and I don’t care what Bill Simmons has to say.”
The 28-year-old has spent his entire career in Columbus to date and was satisfied enough to sign a six-year, $57.5 million extension that will keep him with the team through the 2027-2028 season.
Columbus is not a pushover
While the Blue Jackets may not have been overly competitive as they have rebuilt their roster in recent years, they are starting to turn the corner, and that started last season.
Columbus missed the playoffs a year ago by just two points, and so far in 2025-26 they are tied for the final wild card spot with 22 points thanks to a 10-8-2 start to the campaign.
The emerging young core, led by their workhorse on the blueline, Werenski, is making the Blue Jackets struggle every night, and one can only expect them to use the criticism as motivation to move forward.
Perhaps a statement win on Thursday night in hockey’s mecca, Toronto, will get Simmons’ attention.
Next: Big questions arise about Artemi Panarin’s future in the NHL
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