There have been five players that had ties to Columbus/Cleveland that have retired since the end of the NHL regular season. This is the current list and my takes on their careers and time around Ohio.
1. Jeff Rimer
The voice of Columbus Blue Jackets ice hockey. One of the main reasons I enjoyed my teenage years as a Blue Jackets fan and began writing blogs in my free time on the Hockeybuzz side columns as a high school kid.
The calls of Brandon Dubinsky and Nick Foligno scoring against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Artemi Panarin goal against Washington. The sweep against Tampa Bay. The famous Rick Nash goal.
He could also be considered the mentor to Jody Shelley in his early years as a young Blue Jackets analyst.
What a phenomenal run and distinguished career.
2. Jakub Voracek
No cups but many great years between Columbus and Philadelphia. Retired as a Coyote. 806 career points in 1,058 NHL games. 202 of the points with the Jackets, who drafted him 7th overall in 2007. The Czech was also a one time All Star.
He was traded to Philadelphia with a first and third from 2011, which became Sean Couturier and Nick Cousins. The Jackets got Jeff Carter.
Voracek returned to Columbus in a trade that sent Cam Atkinson to Philadelphia.
Voracek’s contract was traded at the 23 trade deadline for a few games of Jon Gillies as a backup goalie.
Jakey was one of my favorite Flyers with Giroux and Jagr before I fell for the Jackets (plus Wayne Simmonds). Voracek was lethal with the puck and just knew where to find Giroux in Philadelphia.
Sadly in Columbus, concussions hurt him overseas before he called it a career. I wonder how he would have been with a healthy Laine or Gaudreau more often than not.
He also has my favorite social media account as a player. I can’t imagine in his younger years how he was to be around. Absolute stud.
3. Jeff Carter
One of two 2003 first rounders from the Flyers, Carter never wanted to be a Blue Jacket. 25 points in 39 games with Columbus, Carter was acquired for Voracek plus as mentioned above.
Carter saw how bad his year was and asked out immediately. He was flipped to Los Angeles for Jack Johnson and a first round pick, which became Marko Dano.
Carter went onto win two cups in three seasons with LA before being trade near the end of his career to Pittsburgh.
Carter was on the Flyers team I enjoyed almost beat the Blackhawks with the core of Richards, Hartnell, Briere, and Pronger and Timonen.
No goalie has gotten closer to the Cup in Philly than Michael Leighton and Brian Boucher.
He was a beast in LA on that 70s line with Tyler Toffoli and Tanner Pearson. He was a shooter.
Is he a Hall of Famer?
4. Lauri Korpikoski
No points with the Blue Jackets in nine games, the Finn was a Kekalainen pickup 101. He came to Columbus for Dillon Heatherington. Korpi was more of a third or fourth liner with his best years in Arizona.
My best memories of him were just coming short with Doan and the Coyotes to Carter’s Kings. Best year to be a Phoenix fan.
5. Brad Malone
Captain Bakersfield spent his first years in Cleveland under his ELC with Colorado. He enjoyed one Calder Cup postseason appearance and about 165 games with the Monsters. He also had 32 points in 217 NHL games with Colorado, Carolina, and Edmonton.
He may best known for being part of the Kevin Shattenkirk trade from St. Louis to the President Trophy winning Caps, but to me he was always a tweener between the show and the captain of an AHL club.
Congratulations to everyone on their retirement.
Bonus — Here is my take on the current Blue Jackets 2024 All Playoff Team.
Panarin—Duchene—Nyquist
Marchessault—Karlsson—Duclair
Domi—Wennberg—Dubois
Milano—Roslovic—Kolesar
Gavrikov—Cole
Reilly—Johnson
Motte—Peeke
Bobrovsky
Martin
Columbus Blue Jackets Blogger • 
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