Mathieu Olivier, the enforcer and undrafted winger has signed a 6-year extension worth $18M to remain with the Columbus Blue Jackets starting next season.
Olivier, 28, will remain under contract until the 2030-2031 regular season, and is having a career year with 12 goals, 9 assists, for 21 points in 60 games with Columbus this season.
Columbus acquired Olivier via trade from Nashville in exchange for a 2022 4th round draft pick, that originally belonged to Toronto, that was previously acquired in the Nick Foligno trade. The pick became goalie Dennis Hildeby.
Mathieu Olivier contract breakdown ($3M AAV): Year 1, $4M Year 2, $3.9M Year 3, $2.9M Year 4, $2.4M Year 5, $2.4M Year 6, $2.4M 10-team No-Trade Clause
The Tampa Bay Lightning crush the Columbus Blue Jackets, ending their winning streak at four games. The final score of the game is 6-2.
Period I
Mitchell Chaffee got the home team a quick one 30 seconds into the game for his career high 12th goal of the regular season from defenders Ellie Lindberg and Darren Raddysh.
Nikita Kucherov, my Tampa player to watch, doubled the lead for his team a minute and seven seconds later for his 28th goal of the regular season from Jake Guentzel. The former Penguins’ draft pick is on a 15-game point streak against Columbus.
Zach Werenski got his 19th goal of the campaign to cut the score in half and open the road the scoring unassisted.
Period II
Jake Guentzel kept his production alive against the Blue Jackets with the go ahead goal in the second period just 87 seconds into period two. His 28th career Lightning goal was supported by captain Victoria Hedman and Team Canada forward Brayden Point.
Captain Victor Hedman furthered his squad’s lead with his 10th of the campaign from Kucherov and Raddysh.
Werenski got his second goal of the game and second career 20-goal season. Werenski is also the second defenseman this season (Cale Makar) to reach the 20-goal plateau for a defenseman. His remarkable season and run for a Norris Trophy and Hart nominations continues forward. His short-handed goal was supported by Michigan alumni Adam Fantilli and Kent Johnson, who both are on six game point streaks. This ended the scoring for the visiting Blue Jackets.
Period III
Hedman got his second of the game on the powerplay and 11th of the year from Point and Kucherov.
Guentzel potted the empty netter unassisted for his 29th this year.
Goaltenders
Jonas Johansson had 30 saves on 32 shots for a 0.938 save percentage.
Elvis Merzlikins had 5 goals allowed on 39 shots for a 0.872 save percentage.
Players to Watch
Kucherov had his 28th goal and assists 61 and 62 of the regular season. A 90 point season for the Russian winger.
Chinakov returned to the lineup for the first time since November 27, and was a -2 with 2 shots on net with 3 hits and a giveaway in 13:25TOI for his 167th career game.
CBJ Three Stars of the Game
1. Zach Werenski — 2 goals (20)
2. Kent Johnson — assist (23); 6-game point streak
3. Adam Fantilli — assist (20); 6-game point streak
Next Game
Final game before the 2025 Trade Deadline for the Jackets as they face former Columbus skaters’ Seth Jones and Sergei Bobrovsky in Sunrise, Florida, against the defending 2024 Stanley Cup Champions — the Florida Panthers.
Provorov is more than likely sticking around but could be an own rental as an extension is not even close. Expect his name to still swirl around the rumor mill, but the pending free agent is still likely to remain with the Jackets after the deadline.
After Ek promoted my post to the top slot over the weekend, this will be posted daily with my Twitter promotion of who may join and depart Columbus
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