The Blue Jackets have taken care of one of their pending restricted free agents early as CapFriendly reports (Twitter link) that they’ve re-signed forward Joshua Dunne to a one-year, two-way contract. The deal will pay $775K in the NHL and $125K in the minors with a total guarantee of $175K.
The 24-year-old signed a two-year contract with Columbus as an undrafted college free agent back in 2021 and has seen NHL action in two of his three professional seasons including a career-high eight appearances with the Blue Jackets in 2022-23. However, he’s still looking for his first point at the top level. He did, however, have a strong season with AHL Cleveland, finishing second on the Monsters in goals with 20 and fourth in points with 37.
Dunne would have been owed a qualifying offer of nearly $918K this summer with an AHL salary of $80K. Instead, he has opted to take less than that in the NHL in exchange for the higher guaranteed salary. With Columbus trending toward being a team that spends close to the salary cap again next season, the lower cap charge should also help his chances of a recall. Dunne will once again be a restricted free agent with salary arbitration rights next summer.