Columbus Blue Jackets: 3 contract extensions that should happen in 2020
Even after re-signing both of their goaltenders to short-term deals, the Columbus Blue Jackets still have quite a few extensions left to hand out.
The Columbus Blue Jackets have been quite busy recently, even during the NHL’s hiatus. They were going to enter this offseason with five major restricted free agents to worry about, including both of their goaltenders. Last week, they took care of both Elvis Merzlikins and Joonas Korpisalo.
However, their work is far from done. Though the offseason’s beginning date has yet to be set in stone, you can bet general manager Jarmo Kekalainen is going to try to get as much as he can. The Blue Jackets have three major extensions need to be given to each of them. Let’s take a look at those three players who should be getting them.
3. Oliver Bjorkstrand
Oliver Bjorkstrand isn’t a free agent yet. He still has one year left on his two-year, $2.5 million AAV contract he signed last offseason. However, Bjorkstrand will be eligible to sign an extension at the start of the league’s new year. In normal circumstances, that would be July 1. But who knows when the league’s new year will start in these crazy times.
Regardless, whenever the league new year starts, the Blue Jackets would be very wise to try to lock up Bjorkstrand long-term. He’s proven he’s a legitimate top-six forward in the NHL. Despite missing 21 games, he is fourth on the team in points with 36 points in 49 games. No Blue Jackets forward has more 5v5 points per hour this season than Bjorkstrand (2.25).
Last offseason, Bjorkstrand needed to prove he could stay consistently productive. Though injuries got in his way of a full season, he’s proven he can be a consistent producer in the NHL. The Blue Jackets are a team who struggle to score at times, so keeping Bjorkstrand around needs to be a top priority.
Of course, the Blue Jackets don’t have to get anything done with him this offseason since he is under contract for the 2020-21 season. However, they’d be mighty smart to sign him now rather than potentially let him raise his price tag with another impressive season.
2. Vladislav Gavrikov
The Columbus Blue Jackets had various players emerge as pleasant surprises this season. None of them were more pleasant or a bigger surprise than defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov. Before this season, he was a bit of an unknown, even after playing in two games during the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Not only did Gavrikov earn himself a spot on the Blue Jackets opening night roster, he has appeared in all but one of their 70 games this season. He’s one of the four Blue Jackets players to miss no fewer than one game.
Gavrikov proved he belonged in the NHL by showing how he can be effective in all three zones. He had 18 points despite not getting much power-play time, which for a defenseman, isn’t too shabby. Gavrikov’s 14 5v5 points this season rank second among Blue Jackets defensemen, trailing only Zach Werenski. He also proved to be a capable penalty killer.
Now, keeping Gavrikov actually won’t be that hard because, unlike Shore, Gavrikov doesn’t have arbitration rights. This should keep his price down and the Blue Jackets won’t even have to expose him to other teams to keep him.
Most likely, the Blue Jackets would like to give him a bridge deal and see how he does in an expanded role. But I believe they would be smart to see what a long-term deal (four or five years) would cost because he could be a very nice bargain.
1. Pierre-Luc Dubois
Pierre-Luc Dubois came into this season needing to prove himself. Could he produce away from Artemi Panarin? He gave a resounding answer, and that answer is “yes he can”. Dubois leads the Columbus Blue Jackets in points with 49 points in 70 games. He is also second on Blue Jackets forwards in 5v5 points per hour, just behind Bjorkstrand.
The team has two options with Dubois. They can either sign him to a bridge deal or a long-term deal. Now, the Blue Jackets aren’t cap-strapped, so I think they should lean towards the latter. A bridge deal makes the most sense for someone who hasn’t proved themselves, or for a team who would like to give out a long-term deal, but can’t for cap reasons.
Dubois has proven himself to be a very capable center in this league, so a long-term deal makes sense. He’s a top-line caliber center (albeit on the lower end of that tier), so it will likely cost the Blue Jackets at least $6 million per season to keep him around. That’s the going rate for a first-line center.
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The Blue Jackets must keep Dubois around. He’s emerged as a crucial player for them and keeping him around long-term would be great for the franchise.