Another item is checked off Jarmo Kekalainen's to-do list.
UPDATE: The Blue Jackets confirmed Boone Jenner's four-year deal on Thursday morning. According to multiple reports, the contract is worth $15 million total ($3.75 million AAV).
Here's a quote from Kekalainen via the team's official announcement:
"Boone Jenner has been an important player for the Columbus Blue Jackets with his work ethic, character and leadership on and off the ice," said Kekalainen. "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."
Sirius XM NHL Network radio producer Bruce Bolton tweeted – then deleted – that the Blue Jackets were closing in on a four-year deal with RFA forward Boone Jenner.
Jenner, coming off an up-and-down year (13 goals and 19 assists) that finished better than it started, just wrapped up a two-year deal that paid $2.9 million annually. A four-year deal would buy two years of Jenner's unrestricted free agency and take him through his age 29 season (Jenner, 25, would of course be an unrestricted free agent when the deal is up).
Nothing official, but as already reported by @BruceDBolton ... RFA Boone Jenner and #CBJ expected to finalize details on a 4-year contract extension soon.
— Brian Hedger (@JacketsInsider) July 4, 2018
Getting a deal done with Jenner is important for the Blue Jackets as Jenner had arbitration rights. Their two remaining RFAs are Ryan Murray, who also has arbitration rights and is coming off a two-year bridge deal ($2.825 million AAV) of his own, and Oliver Bjorkstrand.
