The Columbus Blue Jackets have signed another young forward, this time inking Mikael Pyyhtia to a three-year, entry-level contract. Pyyhtia is coming off his second full season with TPS in Finland’s Liiga.
Selected 114th overall in 2020, the 20-year-old winger exploded offensively this season, scoring 21 goals and 35 points in just 56 games. That production didn’t slow down in the postseason, where he added eight goals and 13 points in 18 games for TPS. It’s performances like his that should give Blue Jackets fans so much hope, as they try to continue to build a supporting cast for some of their top young players.
There was actually no rush to getting him under contract, given that the Blue Jackets held his rights until June, 2024, meaning that general manager Jarmo Kekalainen must have seen enough to suggest that Pyyhtia could help the organization much sooner. His entry-level deal will kick in next season regardless of where he plays, making him a restricted free agent in the summer of 2025.