 A second-round selection of the Columbus Blue Jackets, 38th overall in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft, Jackman became the first player from MSU-Mankato to be drafted by an NHL team.Jackman chose to forgo his final two years of college eligibility, signing a contract with the Blue Jackets in the summer of 2002, and went on to become the school's first alumnus to play in the NHL.Jackman was assigned to Columbus' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch for the 2002–03 season.