Blue Jackets Re-Sign Jared Boll and Nick Holden

The Columbus Blue Jackets have announced that they have re-signed right wing Jared Boll to a two-year contract worth $2.1 million and defenseman Nick Holden to a one-year, two-way contract.  Boll's deal will pay him $950,000 in 2012-13 and $1.15 million in 2013-14, while Holden's contract will pay him $550,000 at the NHL level and $105,000 in the minors.  In 54 games last season, Boll had two goals and one assist for three points and 126 penalty minutes.  In 25 games last season with Springfield of the AHL, Holden had three goals and six assists for nine points.  He last appeared in the NHL with Columbus during the 2010-11 season.  Boll isn't a bad depth signing for the Blue Jackets, as he plays with loads of grit and toughness.  He has good size, loves to be an agitator on the ice, and will drop the gloves to defend his teammates.  Look for him to be the team's primary enforcer over the next two years.  Holden has good size and some offensive ability, but will likely spend a good chunk of next season in the minors.  If he sees any time with the Blue Jackets, it will likely be as an injruy replacement.

Blue Jackets Sign Derek MacKenzie to Two-Year Extension

The Columbus Blue Jackets announced today that they have re-signed center Derek MacKenzie to a two-year contract worth $2 million.  The deal will average out to $1 million per season.  He would have been an unrestricted free agent on July 1.  In 66 games this past season, he had seven goals and seven assists for 14 points.  This is really just a depth signing for the Blue Jackets, as MacKenzie will likely continue to play a fourth line role on the team.

Blue Jackets Sign Ryan Russell to One-Year Extension

The Columbus Blue Jackets have announced that they have re-signed left wing Ryan Russell to a one-year, two-way contract.  The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.  He would have been a group six unrestricted free agent this summer.  In 41 games this past season with Columbus, he had two goals.  He also appeared in 31 games with Springfield of the AHL, scoring nine goals and six assists for 15 points.  This is really just a depth signing for the Blue Jackets, as Russell could likely split next season with Columbus and Springfield.  He does have some two-way ability, so he will likely see time on the checking lines while playing with the Blue Jackets.

Blue Jackets Re-Sign Derek Dorsett to Three-Year Deal

The Columbus Blue Jackets have announced that they have re-signed right wing Derek Dorsett to a three-year contract extension worth $4.9 million.  The deal will pay him $1.5 million in 2012-13, $1.4 million in 2013-14, and $2 million in 2014-15.  He would have been a restricted free agent this summer.  In 77 games this past season, he had 12 goals and eight assists for 20 points and 235 penalty minutes.  Not a bad move for the Blue Jackets, as Dorsett brings lots of toughness and grit to the forward lines, as well as some offensive ability.  Look for him to continue to be an agitating presence on Columbus' checking lines for the next three seasons.

Blue Jackets Re-Sign Nicholas Drazenovic to One-Year Deal

The Columbus Blue Jackets have announced that they have signed center Nicholas Drazenovic to a one-year contract extension, which will be a two-way deal for next season.  The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.  He would have been eligible for group six unrestricted free agency this summer.  In 41 games this past season with Springfield of the AHL, he had 13 goals and 28 assists for 41 points.  He last appeared in an NHL game during the 2010-11 season with the St. Louis Blues.  This is really just a depth signing for the Blue Jackets, as Drazenovic will likely spend the majority of next season in the minors.

Canucks Acquire Sami Pahlsson from Blue Jackets

The Vancouver Canucks have announced that they have acquired center Sami Pahlsson from the Columbus Blue Jackets for minor league defenseman Taylor Ellington and two fourth round picks in the 2012 Entry Draft. The draft picks that Columbus will receive are Vancouver's fourth round pick and the New York Islanders' fourth round selection, which the Canucks acquired in the Christian Ehrhoff trade this past summer. In 61 games so far this season, Pahlsson has two goals and nine assists for 11 points. Ellington has appeared in 55 games with Kalamazoo of the ECHL, scoring seven goals and 15 assists for 22 points. He was also held pointless in one game with Chicago of the AHL and has yet to appear in an NHL game.

Not a bad depth move for the Canucks, as Pahlsson will bring lots of two-way skill and veteran depth up the middle, particularly on their third and fourth lines. The acquisition ended up being the precursor to the Cody Hodgson trade, and Vancouver really took a downgrade at center on their checking lines. Pahlsson is not as fast as he used to be and the team will likely miss Hodgson's speed up the middle, but he should still be helpful to the Canucks as they inch closer to the playoffs. As for the Blue Jackets, they've been full-blown sellers for the past several weeks, so it comes as no surprise that they moved Pahlsson, an impending free agent. It remains to be seen if Ellington will figure into their rebuild efforts, but the draft picks are the key to this deal to help the Blue Jackets restock their team through the draft.

Jets Claim Grant Clitsome Off Waivers from Blue Jackets

The Winnipeg Jets announced today that they have claimed defenseman Grant Clitsome off waivers from the Columbus Blue Jackets. In 51 games so far this season, he has four goals and 10 assists for 14 points. He still has one more year left on his current contract. Not a bad pick-up for the Jets, as Clitsome will bring some puck-moving and offensive skill to their blueline.

Blue Jackets Claim Darryl Boyce Off Waivers from Maple Leafs

The Columbus Blue Jackets announced on Saturday that they have claimed center Darryl Boyce off waivers from the Toronto Maple Leafs. In 17 games with the Maple Leafs, he had one goal and one assist. He also appeared in 22 games with Toronto of the AHL, scoring four goals and six assists for 10 points. He will be eligible for unrestricted free agency this summer. With Jeff Carter and Antoine Vermette now playing elsewhere, the Blue Jackets were in need of depth at center and they got that in Boyce. He's a hard worker on the ice, plays with a little grit, and has some defensive skill. However, Boyce won't replace the offensive output of either Carter or Vermette and will likely play a bottom-six role for the remainder of the season.

Kings Acquire Jeff Carter from Blue Jackets for Jack Johnson

The Los Angeles Kings pulled off a blockbuster trade on Thursday night by acquiring center Jeff Carter from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for defenseman Jack Johnson and their first round pick in either 2012 or 2013. If Los Angeles misses the playoffs this year, then Columbus will get their first round pick in 2013. If the Kings make the playoffs this season, then the Blue Jackets can choose either the 2012 or 2013 pick. Carter is under contract through the 2021-22 season and comes with an annual salary cap hit of $5.272 million, while Johnson's contract averages $4.357 million per season and expires after the 2017-18 season. In 39 games this season with the Blue Jackets, Carter has 15 goals and 10 assists for 25 points. He missed 20 games this season with a fractured foot and separated shoulder. In 61 games with the Kings, Johnson has eight goals and 16 assists for 24 points. The Kings had been in the market for a scoring forward and they got that in Carter. He has lots of offensive and goal-scoring skill, as well as decent size and a good shot. Look for Carter to be reunited with former teammate Mike Richards, who was traded to Los Angeles by Philadelphia this past summer. The Blue Jackets have added a quality defenseman in Johnson who will bring lots of mobility, offensive upside, and toughness to their blueline. Look for the Blue Jackets to continue to move assets for their rebuild as the February 27 Trade Deadline approaches.

Coyotes Acquire Antoine Vermette from Blue Jackets

The Phoenix Coyotes added some offensive depth on Wednesday by acquiring center Antoine Vermette from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for goaltender Curtis McElhinney, a second round pick in the 2012 Entry Draft, and a fifth round pick in the 2013 Entry Draft. The fifth round pick can be bumped up to a fourth round pick if the Coyotes win a playoff series this year, while the second round pick originally belonged to the Ottawa Senators and was acquired in the Kyle Turris trade this past December. In 60 games this season with the Blue Jackets, Vermette had eight goals and 19 assists for 27 points. In two games with the Coyotes, McElhinney posted one win, a 1.67 GAA, and a .944 save percentage. He has also appeared in 25 games with Portland of the AHL, posting a 10-13-0 record, with a 3.07 GAA, and a .907 save percentage. A decent trade for the Coyotes, as Vermette will add a lot of two-way and offensive skill to their forward lines. He's also good on faceoffs and has lots of versatility, so he should be an excellent fit for the Coyotes. As for the Blue Jackets, they are now in rebuild mode and will likely be selling off more players in the future. McElhinney adds some experience in goal, but will not be a long-term solution, as he is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. The key for the Blue Jackets in this trade are the draft picks, which they will use to restock their team in what is expected to be a major rebuild.

Blue Jackets Sign Vaclav Prospal to One-Year Extension

The Columbus Blue Jackets have announced that they have signed left wing Vaclav Prospal to a one-year contract extension worth $2.5 million. He would have been an unrestricted free agent this summer. In 56 games so far this season, he has 10 goals and 25 assists for 35 points. With a massive rebuilding of the Blue Jackets expected to take place this summer, it was believed that Prospal would likely get traded by the February 27 Trade Deadline, but his re-signing should completely kill all of those rumors. This is an excellent move for the team, as Prospal will bring plenty of offensive depth to the forward lines. His veteran presence will be very welcome to the team next season and he will likely serve as a mentor to the younger players.

Blue Jackets Sign Brett Lebda to One-Year Contract

The Columbus Blue Jackets have announced that they have signed defenseman Brett Lebda to a one-year contract. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. In 26 games this season with Springfield of the AHL, he has one goal and nine assists for 10 points. The 30-year-old defenseman was traded by the Toronto Maple Leafs to the Nashville Predators this past summer and then had the final year of his contract bought out by Nashville, making him an unrestricted free agent. Not a bad depth signing for the Blue Jackets, as Lebda will add some mobility to their defense. With Radek Martinek out for the rest of the season with a concussion, Lebda's veteran presence will be valuable to the struggling team.

Blue Jackets Claim Colton Gillies Off Waivers

The Columbus Blue Jackets have announced that they have claimed left wing Colton Gillies off waivers from the Minnesota Wild. In 37 games with the Wild this season, has has two assists. Not a bad depth move for Columbus, as Gillies has lots of speed, good size, and some forechecking skill. However, he has struggled quite a bit at the NHL level and likely won't make much of an impact to the current Blue Jackets roster.

Blues Acquire Kris Russell from Blue Jackets for Nikita Nikitin

The St. Louis Blues announced on Friday that they have acquired defenseman Kris Russell from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for defenseman Nikita Nikitin. In 12 games with the Blue Jackets this season, Russell has two goals and one assist for three points, while Nikitin has no points in seven games with the Blues. Not a bad depth move for the Blues, as Russell will bring some offensive upside to the team. He also plays with some grit and has some puckmoving skill. The change of scenery may help jump-start his NHL career, but playing on a much deeper defensive corps in St. Louis might make it harder for him to do so. As for the Blue Jackets, Nikitin will bring some defensive upside and puckmoving skill to the team's blueline. He should get more opportunities to improve his overall game in Columbus than he did in St. Louis.

Blue Jackets Acquire Mark Letestu from Penguins

The Columbus Blue Jackets announced today that they have acquired center Mark Letestu from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for a fourth round pick in the 2012 Entry Draft. In 11 games so far this season with the Penguins, he has one assist. Not a bad depth move for the Blue Jackets, as Letestu will add some much needed depth at center. He has some two-way upside, a little offensive ability, and some skill on the faceoff. He should be a decent fourth line center for the team. As for Pittsburgh, this move likely indicates that Sidney Crosby is ready to return to the lineup after being sidelined with a concussion since January. It would not surprise me at all if he plays in Friday's game against the Dallas Stars.

Blue Jackets Sign Fedor Tyutin to Six-Year Extension

The Columbus Blue Jackets announced on Wednesday that they have signed defenseman Fedor Tyutin to a six-year contract extension worth $27 million. The deal will have an average annual salary cap hit of $4.5 million. He has one year left on his current contract and would have been an unrestricted free agent next summer. In 80 games last season, he had seven goals and 20 assists for 27 points. Not a bad signing for the Blue Jackets, as Tyutin has become one of the top defenseman on the team over the past few seasons. He has excellent shutdown skills, some offensive ability, and is capable of playing a role on the power play. Look for him to continue to improve his defensive game over the next few seasons.

Blue Jackets Sign Ryan Russell to One-Year Contract

The Columbus Blue Jackets announced today that they have signed left wing Ryan Russell to a one-year, two-way contract. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. He was acquired by the Blue Jackets from the Montreal Canadiens on July 7 in exchange for Michael Blunden. In 65 games last season with Hamilton of the AHL, Russell had 10 goals and 11 assists for 21 points. This is really just a depth move for the Blue Jackets, as Russell will likely spend the majority of next season in the minors.

Canadiens Acquire Michael Blunden from Blue Jackets for Ryan Russell

The Montreal Canadiens have announced that they have acquired right wing Michael Blunden from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for left wing Ryan Russell. The Blue Jackets re-signed Blunden on June 29 to a one-year, two-way contract. Russell has yet to receive a new contract for the 2011-12 season and is still a restricted free agent. In one game last season with Columbus, Blunden had no points. He also appeared in 37 games with Springfield of the AHL, scoring 12 goals and nine assists for 21 points. Russell appeared in 65 games last season with Hamilton of the AHL, scoring 10 goals and 11 assists for 21 points. He has yet to appear in an NHL game. This is really just a depth move for both teams, as Blunden and Russell will likely spend the majority of next season in the AHL.

Blue Jackets Sign Radek Martinek to One-Year Contract

The Columbus Blue Jackets have announced that they have signed defenseman Radek Martinek to a one-year contract worth $2.2 million. In 64 games last season with the New York Islanders, he had three goals and 13 assists for 16 points. Not a bad signing for the Islanders, as Martinek will bring plenty of veteran depth to the team's defense. He's a capable defensive defenseman who can play a shutdown role and is adept at moving the puck out of the defensive zone. Look for him to play alongside Marc Methot next season on the team's second defensive pairing.

Blue Jackets Sign Marc Methot to Four-Year Contract

The Columbus Blue Jackets have announced that they have re-signed defenseman Marc Methot to a four-year contract worth $12 million. The deal will pay him $2.25 million next season, $2.75 million in 2012-13, $3.25 million in 2013-14, and $3.75 million in 2014-15. In 74 games last season, he scored no goals, but had 15 assists. Not a bad signing for the Blue Jackets, as Methot brings plenty of skill to the blueline as a defensive defenseman. He has good stay-at-home defenseman qualities, as well as decent size. More than likely, he will be paired up with newcomer Radek Martinek on the second defensive pairing next season.