A number of players from the Blue Jackets played the year with the team's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch.
The Crunch finished the season in fifth place in the seven-team North Division with a 36–33–4–7 record, earning 83 points.
However, they failed to qualify for the 2005 Calder Cup playoffs While some Blue Jackets joined the Crunch during the lockout, others crossed the Atlantic and played hockey in Europe.
Reigning joint-Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy winner Rick Nash played for HC Davos in the National League A (NLA) in Switzerland, while David Vyborny returned to his native Czech Republic to play with Sparta Prague.
Meanwhile, Nikolai Zherdev returned to Russia to play for former club CSKA Moscow.