In case you missed it, the Blue Jackets signed 2019 fourth-round pick Dmitri Voronkov to a two-year, entry-level contract Thursday. To get the full details on his contract, click on the link in the embedded tweet below.
The Blue Jackets signed 2019 fourth-round pick Dmitri Voronkov to a two-year, entry-level contract. #CBJ https://t.co/P0OSSKraqz
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) May 4, 2023
After spending the past five seasons in the KHL, which is widely regarded as the world's best league outside of the NHL, Voronkov is almost guaranteed to be with the Blue Jackets for the entire 2023-24 season, especially due to the European Assignment Clause in his contract that states he can go back to Russia if he's not on the Blue Jackets roster at the end of December 2023, according to Aaron Portzline of The Athletic.
Radulov shoots, Voronkov scores on rebound. This duo #GagarinCupFinal pic.twitter.com/Y0BWlapB7n
— KHL (@khl_eng) April 17, 2023
Regardless of the clause in his contract, it was likely that Voronkov would be in the NHL next season, and the Blue Jackets will welcome him at the center position, a spot where they desperately need quality players.
Once he plays in his first NHL game, Voronkov will be the 23rd player the Blue Jackets have drafted outside the first round since Jarmo Kekalainen took over in 2013 to appear in an NHL game.
I've written extensively on this site about the importance of hitting on first-round picks, especially ones near or at the top of the draft, but in order to win consistently, a GM has to find players throughout the draft. Kekalainen has done that, drafting players like Kirill Marchenko, Oliver Bjorkstrand, Andrew Peeke, Vladislav Gavrikov, Alex Texier, and others.
As he approaches his 11th draft, Kekalainen deserves credit for finding impactful NHL players outside of the first round.
One-timer from Dmitry Voronkov just 28 seconds after CSKA's goal!#GagarinCupFinal pic.twitter.com/pUKHmlb7kk
— KHL (@khl_eng) April 21, 2023
Voronkov's signing is another step in the right direction as Kekalainen tries to build a long-term winner in Columbus.
