Wednesday was a day of celebration in Central Ohio, as the Blue Jackets pulled off, perhaps the biggest free agent signing in franchise history.
The New Jersey Devils had been the favorite to land premier free agent and six-time NHL All-Star Johnny Gaudreau. Still, somehow Columbus managed to lure him away from his hometown team, for reportedly less money than the Devils had offered him.
The Gaudreau signing overshadowed everything else on Wednesday, given that the New Jersey native scored 115 points last year for the Calgary Flames. If he had done that for the Blue Jackets last season, he would've been their leading scorer by a 53-point margin. Though, even with this wonderful, yet shocking news, Gaudreau wasn't the only former Flame to sign with the Blue Jackets. His teammate and 11-year NHL veteran defenseman, Erik Gudbranson also signed with Columbus earlier in the day.
#CBJ sign D Erik Gudbranson to a four year, $16 million contract. AAV $4M
— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) July 13, 2022
The Canadian blue liner was signed to a four-year, $16 million dollar contract, with an average annual value (AAV) of $4 million. Most considered this a steep price for a 30-year-old defenseman whose last contract had an AAV of less than half of his new contract. Though the reactions to his new contract were by-and-large negative, there are several factors to consider when determining why the Blue Jackets signed Gudbranson to that contract.
This is not going to sit well with #CBJ nation. https://t.co/7FByJlO5iV
— Brian Hedger (@BrianHedger) July 13, 2022
First, there is the experience and veteran leadership that Gudbranson can bring to a young and inexperienced blue line. The next oldest defensemanman projected to be in the Jackets' lineup is the 26-year-old Vladislav Gavrikov, who has only three NHL seasons to his name. Gudbranson brings 641 games and 11 years of NHL experience to the table, along with solid leadership and a steady locker room presence. Those 641 games are more than all defenseman not named Zach Werenski combined.
"He's a great character guy," said general manager Jarmo Kekalainen. "I think we have a really good leadership group with Zach Werenski and Boone Jenner and Jake Voracek, Gus Nyquist, Bjorkstrand. Those guys are pretty experienced leaders now, but it never hurts to add some more, so I think he'll be a great addition in that sense."
Then there is Gudbranson's size and the added toughness he will bring to a defensive unit that was pushed around at times last season. He is 6-5, 222 lbs. and has a reputation as someone who has learned to use his size to his advantage when challenging opposing forwards. The physical presence was sorely missing from a Blue Jacket lineup that has younger, smaller-sized talent up and down the lineup.
While he did set his personal record in points last season, Gudbranson is not known for his offensive production, but rather as a defensive stopper. He may have lost a step over the years, but he is a tough, gritty, and physical defender who will do the dirty work in the trenches. With any luck, this is something that will rub off on some of the other D-men on his new unit.
"Our problem is not scoring goals," Kekalainen also said when asked about Gudbranson. "We scored a lot of goals. We just got to keep the puck out of our net, and this guy can defend. He's a penalty killer, and he's got size and strength and toughness and grit and leadership, so we're very excited to have Erik here."
Gaudreau wanted Gudbranson to come with him. Jarmo said no problem.
— Jason Gregor (@JasonGregor) July 13, 2022
Gaudreau feeding Laine could be lethal in Columbus. Good for Columbus to land Gaudreau. That market will be amped up. SEVEN years at $9.8m AAV according to @FriedgeHNIC
The signing may have made more sense hours later when the club announced the signing of Gaudreau. While it is largely conjecture at this point, the Blue Jackets may have made this move, in part, to help convince Gudbranson's (briefly) former teammate to join him in Columbus. None of the parties involved have publicly come out and said that this was the case, nor would it be likely that they ever will. However, there were several UFA defensemen available that fit the bill of what Columbus was looking for, but they chose the blue liner that happened to be a teammate of the star left winger, hours before also getting him to sign.
Whatever the case may be as to why the Blue Jackets signed Gudbranson to such a generous contract, there is no denying that the organization is building something exciting in Columbus. Now the fifth line will wait with anticipation as they wait to cheer on their team this next season.
