Day one of the open market has hit the hockey world by storm, and Columbus has managed to play the market rather safely on opening day compared to Draft Day.

The only major addition to the club was signing hometown boy Sean Kuraly to a four year deal, worth $2.5M per season.

Kuraly, 28, was a San Jose Sharks draft selection in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, but decided to stick with education and collegiate hockey by staying at Miami University of Ohio. Once his time at school was up, he decided to sign in Boston instead of the team that drafted him.

In 270 regular season games with the Bruins, Sean Kuraly has put up 68 points (24 goals, 44 assists) while being a -12 and earning 134 penalty minutes during his Boston career. In the playoffs, he scored 19 points in 57 games played (9 goals, 10 assists), while being a +2 and collecting 24 penalty minutes during those games.

As a center, his career faceoff winning percentage is 50.8%, meaning he is a better guy to have at the center dot when possession is important in the game of hockey. He also has over 500 hits accumulated so far, showing his physical play and style on the ice. The hits show he will get the puck and separate a player from it, but it may wear his body down towards the final season of his contract.

Based off what he has done and where he’s coming from, he will probably start the year as the team’s third or fourth line center, with top penalty killing responsibilities. For him to come home, this is a great move on him to be back with family and friends, and for the team to show how they want guys that want to play in the Buckeye state.

After being unable to sign him due to the expansion draft, the Blue Jackets reacquired defenseman Gavin Bayreuther to a two year, two way contract. Last week, he was the selection by the Seattle Kraken, and after failing to sign a contract with them, he returns back to Columbus.

Columbus also signed center Tyler Sikura to a one year, two way contract. He spent last season with the Cleveland Monsters, scoring 21 points in 29 games (11 goals, 10 assists). Sikura spent the last three years with the Blackhawks’ farm system in Rockford, and is hoping to get a shot at NHL games.

Columbus also announced the contract extensions of wingers Eric Robinson, Alexandre Texier, Boone Jenner, and Patrik Laine in addition to the addictions.

Robinson signed a new two year extension, for a total of $3.2M, or $1.6M per season. This extensions kicks in after next year; this year he is earning $975K. The undrafted winger proved his worth under Torts, and is hoping to work his way up the lineup with Brad Larsen behind the bench.

After being injured parts of the last two years, Alexandre Texier has signed a two year contract worth $3.05M, for a $1.525M cap hit. Texier has been trying to get more ice time by playing in France as well as here so he can more chances at center, where the team is weakest. In 87 career games, Texier has earned 29 points (11 goals, 18 assists).

Boone Jenner has signed a four year, $15M dollar contract, worth a cap hit of $3.75M. This is the exact same contract he is currently under, but extended through the 2025-2026 season. This gets Jenner all the ice time he wants, and the most term of any active Blue Jackets currently. In 530 games with Columbus, he has scored 240 points in his entire career. Jenner was a second round pick with the club in 2011, being the first pick in that draft after they dealt that first with Jake Voracek for Jeff Carter.

Patrik Laine accepted his qualifying offer from Columbus, earning him a one year extension with a cap hit of $7.5M for this season. Laine was acquired by Columbus in January with Jack Roslovic for Pierre-Luc Dubois and a 2022 third round selection. Laine is hoping to rebound this season after a unproductive first under Tortorella.

Columbus lost Michael Del Zotto and Adam Clendenning in the open market as well. MDZ signed with Ottawa to a one year deal, worth $2M; and Clendenning signed a two-way contract with Philadelphia.

Former CBJ stars Nick Foligno and David Savard found new homes in the Atlantic Division. Foligno joined the Boston Bruins on a two year deal, worth $7.6M; Savard joined Montreal to a four year, $13.5M dollar contract. Ian Cole joined the Carolina Hurricanes on a one year, $2.9M dollar contract; and Michael Chaput signed a one year $750K deal with Pittsburgh. Alexander Wennberg hit the jackpot on a three year, $13.5M signing with the expansion Seattle Kraken. Zac Dalpe has signed a two year, two way contract with Florida.

Updated: 11:15pm

The Blue Jackets have extended defenseman Zach Werenski and Jake Bean to massive contracts. Bean’s new deal is a three year, $7M dollar transaction; Werenski’s is a mega 6 year, $57.5M dollar move.

Bean came over to Columbus in a deal with Carolina for the second round pick Columbus got from Chicago in the Seth Jones move. After surprisingly not getting selected by the Kraken, the Blue Jackets jumped on the former first round selection, hoping to capitalize on his potential and availability in the market.

Werenski, like Jenner and Robinson, is signing a year early to stay with Columbus longer term. The former Wolverine has become the franchise number one defenseman, and is getting paid outright like one, earning even more than former linemate Seth Jones on his new deal in Chicago.

Zach Werenski is the franchise, and the tag and pressure is on him. This is a win now contract, and a contract he should win a Norris Trophy with while in the Union Blue uniform.

Thoughts on the transactions? What are your thoughts and line combos? More to come...

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