Columbus Blue Jackets reportedly sign Johnny Gaudreau to seven-year contract

The Columbus Blue Jackets have signed forward Johnny Gaudreau to a seven-year contract worth $9.75 million per season, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported Wednesday.

Gaudreau, 28, scored 40 goals and 115 points in 82 games with the Calgary Flames during the 2021-22 regular season. He added three goals and 14 points in 12 games in the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The Flames originally selected Gaudreau in the fourth round (104th overall) of the 2022 NHL Draft. The 5’9″, 165-pound forward spent the first eight full seasons of his career in Calgary, scoring 210 goals and 609 points in 602 games.

Gaudreau had over 80 points three times during his tenure with the Flames. He also had three 30-goal seasons with Calgary and hit the 40-goal plateau in his final season with his original team.

With Gaudreau in the fold, the Blue Jackets now have Jakub Voracek, Oliver Bjorkstrand, Gaudreau, Jack Roslovic, Gustav Nyquist, Cole Sillinger, Yegor Chinakhov, Boone Jenner, Alex Texier and others under contract for the 2022-23 season. Columbus also has Patrik Laine as a restricted free agent with officiating rights.

The new agreement announced by Gaudreau includes a total financial commitment of $68.6 over seven years. It is the richest deal granted at this stage of the 2022 unrestricted free agency period.