Just days after being dealt to the Columbus Blue Jackets in a blockbuster trade, Brandon Saad is the new holder of a nice, long contract.
The former Chicago Blackhawks left wing, who was a restricted free agent, has agreed to a six-year, $36 million contract that will keep him with the Blue Jackets through the 2020-21 NHL season.
“Adding a player of Brandon’s caliber is exciting for the Columbus Blue Jackets organization and our fans and we are extremely pleased to have reached this long-term commitment that assures he will be an important part of our team for years to come,” Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said in a team statement on the contract.
Saad is coming off a season in which he scored 19 goals, and added 28 assists for a total of 47 points. In 19 playoff games this year, Saad scored six goals and tallied 10 assists, helping the Blackhawks win their third Stanley Cup in six years.
He was traded to the Blue Jackets as a way to alleviate some of the salary cap issues the team is facing due to the $10-million per year contracts going into effect for Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews.
With Saad under contract, Columbus boasts a roster that includes Nick Foligno, Ryan Johansen, Brandon Dubinsky, Sergei Bobrovsky and Jack Johnson. Should the team not be riddled with injuries once again, the Blue Jackets could very well be one of the scarier teams in the Eastern Conference.
