The Blue Jackets have checked another restricted free agent off their list of players to re-sign.
Nick Blankenburg, 24, agreed to a two-year, $1.65 million contract Friday to remain in Columbus after making his NHL debut last season by playing seven games for the Blue Jackets. Blankenburg, who signed with Columbus as an undrafted free agent out of the University of Michigan , had one goal, two assists and made a strong first impression on his new coaching staff.
Despite standing just 5 foot 9, 175 pounds, Blankenburg stepped right into the NHL and looked comfortable right away. He started on the right side of the third defense pairing and saw time on all three units, including the top one playing with Zach Werenski — the Jackets' top defenseman.
"It was big for me, knowing what things I did well and what things I can work on," Blankenburg said at the conclusion of the Jackets' development camp. "That's definitely something I've been doing with the staff at Michigan throughout the summer, just watching old games and even talking with (Blue Jackets assistant Steve McCarthy) here, just kind of seeing things I can improve that will translate in the NHL. (Last season) was big for my confidence, just to have that under my belt."
Blankenburg initially signed a one-year entry-level contract that made him an RFA when the NHL's free-agent window opened Wednesday. He didn't have enough NHL games to earn arbitration rights or sign an offer sheet with another team, so the Blue Jackets had a strong upper hand.
Blankenburg did get rewarded though.
His new contract is a one-way deal that guarantees he'll make his full NHL salary, even if he spends time with the Cleveland Monsters in the American Hockey League. It will pay him $800,000 this season and $850,000 in 2023-24.
The salary-cap charge for the deal is $825,000 per year, which is downright economical for a player who's already showing signs that he's ready for a full-time NHL role. Following the conclusion of the Jackets' season, Blankenburg also played for the United States at the 2022 world championship in Finland before a knee injury ended his tournament early.
The knee, which was injured in December while playing for the Wolverines, was surgically repaired and Blankenburg is nearing the end of his rehab process. After living in Columbus for six-plus weeks, he'll soon head back to the Detroit area to continue his offseasons workouts with Werenski and others at Little Caesar's Arena.
Blankenburg is expected to be ready for his first training camp in September and may be part of the Jackets' rookie team that will compete prior to camp at the annual Traverse City Prospects Tournament in Traverse City, Michigan.
The Blue Jackets still have a glaring hole to fill next to Werenski on the top pairing, but Blankenburg isn't looking that far ahead. He's keeping his primary goal simplistic going into the season ahead.
"Obviously, you set goals high and you want to be a full-time NHL defenseman, so I think that's kind of where I'm starting at," he said. "(My goal) is to fight for a spot on the team in training camp this year. Yeah, you have goals in the future and in your career, but I also don't want to get caught up in that. I'm just trying to do the right things and create the right habits, day in and day out, to get me to that goal."
The Blue Jackets have two RFAs left to sign on the NHL roster, forwards Emil Bemstrom and Patrik Laine — whose next deal will require general manager Jarmo Kekalainen to clear room under the league's $82.5 million salary cap after the team signed superstar Johnny Gaudreau on Wednesday to a seven-year $68.25 million deal as an unrestricted free agent.
Laine, who has one RFA season left, was tendered a one-year, $7.5 million qualifying offer Monday. Talks are stalled, but both sides are hopeful the star winger agrees to a longer-term extension .
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Blue Jackets keep Blankenburg with two-year extension
