Canadian NHL team Blue Jackets set to sign Damon Severson from Devils.

Columbus Blue Jackets Acquire Damon Severson in Sign-and-Trade Deal

The Columbus Blue Jackets have added another piece to their blue line, as they acquired defenseman Damon Severson in a sign-and-trade deal with the New Jersey Devils. This move comes at the heels of the Blue Jackets acquiring Ivan Provorov in a three-team trade with the Philadelphia Flyers and Los Angeles Kings.

Details of the Deal

The deal involved the Devils signing Severson to an eight-year contract before trading him to Columbus. In return, the Blue Jackets sent a 2023 third-round pick originally belonging to the Calgary Flames to the Devils. Severson’s new contract is worth $6.25 million per season for eight years.

Jarmo Kekalainen, the general manager of the Blue Jackets, expressed his excitement over the acquisition of Severson, stating that the defenseman “is a versatile defenseman who has great vision, moves the puck extremely well, has good size and can play heavy minutes at both ends of the ice”. He further emphasized that Severson will be a critical component to the Blue Jackets’ blue line for years to come.

Severson’s Performance

Severson was a pending unrestricted free agent before the deal, which means the Blue Jackets avoided the hassle of trying to sign him in free agency. Severson is a right-handed defenseman who posted 26 assists and 33 points in 81 games this season while averaging 19:57 in ice time per game.

His statistical output reduced slightly in the playoffs, where he had three points in 12 games and his ice time was slightly decreased to 18:33 per game. Nonetheless, Severson remains a valuable player in the Blue Jackets’ quest to improve on their second-worst goals-against average per game last season.

The Risk of an Eight-Year Contract

While Severson’s signing is a noteworthy achievement for the Blue Jackets, signing an eight-year contract with a 28-year-old player comes with some risks. Severson will be 36 by the time his contract expires, and there is no guarantee he will still be an elite defenseman by then.

Moreover, Severson’s average ice time this year was the lowest since 2017-18, which raises questions on how he will perform in the long-term. Nevertheless, the Blue Jackets are hoping that Severson’s experience and talent will provide long-term dividends.

Conclusion

The Blue Jackets’ signing of Severson and acquisition of Provorov show that they are doubling down on improving their blue line to compete in the Metropolitan Division. While Severson’s eight-year contract comes with risks, the Blue Jackets believe he can play a critical role in their team’s success.

As for the Devils, while they may miss Severson’s presence on their blue line, their acquisition of a third-round pick helps keep their prospect pipeline flowing. Overall, this trade is a win-win for both teams, and it will be interesting to see how Severson performs in the coming seasons.