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Columbus Blue Jackets sign Jake Christiansen to two-year contract extension
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- Columbus Blue Jackets sign Jake Christiansen to two-year contract extension
The Blue Jackets had the day off Friday, but Don Waddell stayed hard at work in his dual roles as president of hockey operations and general manager.
More: Columbus Blue Jackets 2024-25 midseason report card: As, Bs and a couple Cs
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Continuing to work on reducing a high number of pending free agents , Waddell signed defenseman Jake Christiansen to a two-year contract extension worth $1.95 million to avoid becoming a restricted free agent July 1. Christiansen, 25, gets a one-way NHL deal worth an average annual value of $975,000 that will pay the same rate whether he's with the Blue Jackets or AHL Cleveland.
Mar 30, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Jake Christiansen (23) races to a puck in front of Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin (71) in the second period of the NHL hockey game at Nationwide Arena.
The latter is unlikely since Christiansen has played in all 45 of the Blue Jackets' games this season and has settled into a consistent role on the third pairing. He has two goals, 12 assists and 14 points in 89 career games for the Blue Jackets since making his NHL debut in the 2021-22 season, including 1-7-6 with a +4 plus/minus rating this season.
Christiansen has also added some physicality to his playing style since first signing with the Blue Jackets in 2020 as an undrafted free agent who put up big offensive numbers in the Western Hockey League. He's from West Vancouver, British Columbia, and is close friends with Blue Jackets forward Kent Johnson , so they'll get at least two more years to keep maturing in the NHL together.
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"Jake is a mobile, puck-moving defenseman who continues to improve and become a consistent contributor on our blueline this season," Waddell said in a statement. "His high character fits in well in our dressing room and we are excited about his future with our club."
Sep 25, 2022; Columbus, Ohio, United States; Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Jake Christiansen (23) looks out into the rink in a pause in play during the first period of the preseason game at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Scheller-The Columbus Dispatch
Christiansen's extension reduces Waddell's number of pending free agents to 12, including eight unrestricted free agents and four restricted free agents. That's a high number, but it's also two fewer than it was to start the week. Prior to extending Christiansen's stay, Waddell signed forward Zach Aston-Reese to a one-year extension that will keep him in Columbus next season.
Waddell also has a slew of expiring contracts to address with members of his front office and other staffers who work within the Jackets' hockey operations department. He's been extremely busy since taking over the Blue Jackets' hockey side in late May of last year, but doesn't mind the workload.
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"That's OK," Waddell quipped. "That's what I get paid for."
The Blue Jackets have won six straight games and hit the road this weekend to New Yokk looking to extend that streak while trying to stay in one of the Eastern Conference's two wild-card spots.
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Blue Jackets sign Jake Christiansen to contract extension
