This can be an appreciation post for Boone Jenner.
Jenner has been a solid hockey player for the Columbus Blue Jackets for some time now.
And it feels like he's elevated his game over the past few seasons. Maybe it's because he's the captain, and he's got more of a focal point on himself. Even if it's all about the team.
Between 2021-22 and 2022-23, Jenner did improve his xGF/60 and xGA/60 according to Natural Stat Trick. His GF/60 in '21-22 was as high as it's ever been. Although same for his GA/60 in each of the last two seasons, which speaks to the struggles of the overall team defense as well.
But there's no denying what Jenner has meant for the Blue Jackets over his 11-year career. And he's still only 30 years old.
Whether he's playing on the wing, at center, on the top line, or wherever, No. 38 has been consistent in bringing his all every game.
Jenner scores goals. He puts up points. He wins face-offs. Jenner is the leading goal-scorer for the Blue Jackets with six tallies this season and is second in points with eight.
In Monday's loss 5-4 overtime to the Florida Panthers, Jenner's first-period goal at 18:51 closed the gap to within one, making it a 3-2 game after Florida jumped out to a 3-0 lead by the 6:09 mark.
Jenner and Co. bringing them back within one. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/ugVuRqS1tE
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) November 7, 2023
Columbus didn't win the game but over the last few weeks, the team has shown signs of progression and doing the right things.
"For sure, we have that belief," Jenner said. We have that belief in here. When (the Panthers) were buzzing us there in the first, we knew why. We just weren't playing them. We had to man up and start playing and give ourselves a chance. When we do that, we're a good hockey team."
In addition to his scoring, Jenner leads the team with 45 shots on goal, is third overall on the team in ice time per game, and first among forwards (20:33), and he leads the team in the face-off circle with a record of 133-92 (59.1%). He's fourth on the team with 18 blocked shots, tied with Jake Bean, and fifth with 12 hits.
With 669 career games under his belt, Jenner is closing in on Rick Nash as the Blue Jackets franchise's all-time games-played leader, sitting just five games from tying the record.
Now with 176 career goals, he trails Cam Atkinson by 37 for second on the all-time goal-scoring list for the Blue Jackets. With 337 career points, he's 65 points behind Atkinson for second on the all-time points list.
Jenner and the Blue Jackets are back at it on Thursday in a rematch against the Dallas Stars from Nationwide Arena. Puck drop is set for 7:30 p.m. ET.
