Columbus Blue Jackets Ink RW Oliver Bjorkstrand To Five-Year Extension

The NHL season is fast approaching, and on Wednesday, the Columbus Blue Jackets spent some coin on one of their own, inking right wing Oliver Bjorkstrand to a five-year contract extension worth a reported $27 million.

The 25-year-old put up 133 points (65 goals, 68 assists) for the Jackets last season as they went 33-22-15 (81 points), good for fourth in the Metropolitan Division.

Bjorkstrand has notched 20-plus goals in back-to-back seasons and three straight campaigns of 36 points or more. He has added 6-6-12 in 31 career playoff outings.

"Oliver is a gifted player that has shown steady improvement throughout career to this point and we couldn't be happier that he will be a Blue Jacket for a very long time," Jackets General Manager Jarmo Kekalainen said in a statement.

"He is a dangerous offensive player, and we believe he will be an even more impactful player for us as he continues to develop and mature in this league."

Bjorkstrand was a third round pick of the Jackets (89th overall) in the 2013 NHL Draft.

He set career highs in goals with 23-13-36 in 77 games during the 2018-19 season. He played in all 82 games for Columbus during the 2017-18 season.

The Jackets have made the postseason in all four seasons Bjorkstrand has been with the franchise. "I like my spot on the team. I like the city. There’s not much to complain about there," he said.