Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

Blue Jackets ink ‘key contributor’ Boone Jenner to four-year deal

Columbus Blue Jackets v New Jersey Devils

NEWARK, NJ - FEBRUARY 20: Boone Jenner #38 of the Columbus Blue Jackets celebrates his first period goal against the New Jersey Devils on February 20, 2018 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Getty Images

There’s some uncertainty as to whether or not the Columbus Blue Jackets will be able to sign Artemi Panarin to a long-term deal, but questions have now been answered about another young forward on the team.

On Thursday morning, the Jackets announced that they had signed forward Boone Jenner to a four-year, $15 million contract.

“Boone Jenner has been an important player for the Columbus Blue Jackets with his work ethic, character and leadership on and off the ice,” GM Jarmo Kekalainen said in a release. “He is still a young player that is improving in all facets of the game and we couldn’t be happier that he will continue to be a key contributor to our team in the years to come.”

It was a tough year for Jenner at times, as he collected just one goal in 29 games between Nov. 22-Jan. 30. The 25-year-old’s point totals have decreased over the last three years (49, 34 and 32), but his points-per-game rose slightly from 2016-17 to 2017-18.

But Jenner has never been able to replicate the offensive success he had in 2015-16, when he scored 30 goals and 49 points in 82 games. Still, his cap hit of $3.75 million is more than reasonable for a player of his potential.

The Blue Jackets now have to figure out contracts for restricted free agents Oliver Bjorkstrand and Ryan Murray. They have over $11.6 million in cap space, so they shouldn’t have a problem settling those new contracts.

--

Joey Alfieri is a writer for Pro Hockey Talk on NBC Sports. Drop him a line at phtblog@nbcsports.com or follow him on Twitter @joeyalfieri.