Laine signs four-year contract with Blue Jackets – Hockey

The amount of the contract is 34.8 million US dollars (34.1 million euros).

The 24-year-old forward, who was a restricted free agent, had 56 points (26 goals and 30 assists) in 56 games for the Blue Jackets last season.

“One of our priorities this summer was to extend Laini’s contract,” said Columbus unit general manager Jarmo Kekeleinen. “He’s a special player, one of the elite goal scorers in the NHL, and he’s fit in extremely well with our team since he got here. He’s an integral part of the team we’re building in Columbus.”

The Winnipeg “Jets” selected him with the second number in the 2015 NHL draft. Laine has scored 327 points (176+151) in 407 regular season games for the Blue Jackets and Jets. He has scored at least 25 goals in five of his six NHL seasons.

In Stanley Cup games, Laine has 16 points (8+8) in 24 games.

It’s the second major signing the Blue Jackets have made this offseason. On July 13, the club signed forward Johnny Goodreau to a seven-year contract for $68.25 million (€66.8 million).

The Columbus Crew traded Danish forward Oliver Bjorkstrand to the Seattle Kraken on Friday for a third- and fourth-round pick in the 2023 NHL draft.

The 27-year-old forward set his NHL career highs with 28 goals, 29 assists and 57 points in 80 games for the Blue Jackets last season.

He has four seasons remaining on his $27 million (€26.4 million) five-year contract with Columbus in January 2021.

Kekeleinen explains the deal he made with the desire to fit into the NHL salary cap after signing the contracts of Gudri and Laine.

The 89th pick of the Blue Jackets in the third round of the 2013 NHL draft has accumulated 234 points (111 goals and 123 assists) in 382 regular season games in seven NHL seasons. He also has 12 points (six goals and six assists) in 31 Stanley Cup games.

On the other hand, striker Pierre-Luc Dubois, who was traded by the Blue Jackets to the Winnipeg Jets last January, has signed a one-year contract with the Jets for six million US dollars (5.88 million euros).

The 24-year-old restricted free agent had 60 points (28 goals and 32 assists) in 81 games for the Jets last season.

He was selected third overall by the Blue Jackets in the first round of the 2016 NHL Draft.

Dubois has 239 points (102 goals and 137 assists) in 361 regular season games for the Jets and Blue Jackets, and 22 points (eight goals and 14 assists) in 33 Stanley Cup games.

DuBois was traded to Winnipeg for forwards Laine and Jack Roslovitz.