The Columbus Blue Jackets have made an addition to their prospect pool, signing goaltender Nolan Lalonde to a three-year entry-level deal, per a team announcement. Lalonde went undrafted in the 2022 draft and was a training camp invitee for the Blue Jackets.
Last season, Lalonde was the starting netminder for the Erie Otters, a squad who struggled and ultimately missed the OHL playoffs. Lalonde went 24-25-3 with a .877 save percentage and 3.62 goals-against average, but that’s not what earns him this professional contract. Instead, it looks to be Lalonde’s impressive performance this preseason with the Blue Jackets, a performance highlighted by him saving 28 of 30 shots through two preseason games, that earned him this deal.
The Blue Jackets currently boast 23-year-old Daniil Tarasov as their top goalie prospect, but beyond him, the team’s prospect pool in net is quite thin. Adding Lalonde gives the team another goalie prospect to develop, and Lalonde will head back to the OHL looking to improve his performance for in his sophomore season.