The Columbus Blue Jackets are expected to acquire pending UFA defenseman Damon Severson from the New Jersey Devils in a sign-and-trade deal, per Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman. Severson’s extension will come in at eight years with a $6.25MM cap hit. Columbus would later make the deal official.
Columbus will send a third-round pick in this year’s draft, 80th overall (originally owned by Calgary), to New Jersey for facilitating the deal, says Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli. PuckPedia has the details of Severson’s max-term contract:
2023-24: $6MM salary, $2MM signing bonus, full no-trade clause
2024-25: $6MM salary, $2MM signing bonus, full no-trade clause
2025-26: $5.5MM salary, $2MM signing bonus, full no-trade clause
2026-27: $4.1MM salary, $2MM signing bonus, full no-trade clause
2027-28: $3.3MM salary, $1.8MM signing bonus, 20-team trade list
2028-29: $4.1MM salary, $1MM signing bonus, 12-team trade list
2029-30: $5.1MM salary, 12-team trade list
2030-31: $5.1MM salary, 12-team trade list
This is the second true sign-and-trade in NHL history. The Florida Panthers and Calgary Flames became the first to do it with last year’s Matthew Tkachuk blockbuster.
It’s also the Columbus Blue Jackets’ second major move on defense in the span of three days. After an injury-riddled season that saw Columbus boast the weakest ’D’ corps in the league on some nights, the team has now added a pair of top-four caliber players in Severson and Ivan Provorov to compliment youngsters like Adam Boqvist, Nick Blankenburg, David Jiricek, and Andrew Peeke.
Severson, 28, was the longest-tenured member of the Devils, drafted just weeks after their run to the Stanley Cup Final – and last playoff series win before this year – in 2012. The veteran of nearly 650 NHL games has always been a capable point producer, recording a pair of 11-goal seasons and multiple 30-point campaigns, but has also put up some strong defensive metrics, especially this season.
This season, his Corsi For percentage at even strength was 56.5%, although it came with a small reduction in his role from over 23 minutes per game in 2021-22 to just under 20 minutes in 2022-23. While he may not have the upside of his fellow new teammates, Provorov, he’s got a much more solidified track record of two-way success and can play anywhere incoming head coach Mike Babcock chooses.
To put it simply – Severson is a capable, well-rounded, minute-munching defender who plays the right side. While the last few years of the contract carry some significant risk, given he’ll be in his mid-30s, $6.25MM is a very fair price to pay for his services right now.
The move takes one of the top pending UFAs off the market, and along with Vladislav Gavrikov’s extension in Los Angeles this week, the market for defenders on July 1 is looking a lot thinner. Dmitry Orlov, Erik Gustafsson, Shayne Gostisbehere, John Klingberg, and Matt Dumba now make up the remainder of the top UFAs available at the position.
One thing is abundantly clear – Columbus isn’t willing to wait any longer for a return to postseason play. With the Severson extension in play, the team should have a little under $6MM in cap space remaining this offseason, per CapFriendly, assuming a $1MM increase is finalized. That will undoubtedly go to upgrading their group of forwards.
New Jersey Hockey Now’s James Nichols reported earlier in the week that Columbus had an interest in Severson.
They also have Werenski which the article forgot to mention
Bean as well
Werenski’s not a young guy that needs help… that’s what they wrote, veterans to bring young guys along.
Mr. Bean, buddy.
Solid pickup, blue line will be better next season, g’s will appreciate it.
Somewhat supplementally, I wonder where all this leaves Erik Gudbranson.
Cap space isn’t an issue for CBJ but it will be soon if they keep trending like this. I think there’s a non-zero chance he’s buried in Cleveland to start the year – he only has trade protection, not move protection. Still, three more years of that at $4MM is a yikes (and it was from the day the deal was signed).
I was thinking the same thing. I heard there were rumors of Columbus and Philly having talks about Kevin Hayes. Maybe Guddy becomes part of that deal to offset money? Like Gudbranson and Roslovic for Hayes as an example, or Bean could be another interchangeable piece
Maybe the Blackhawks can acquire him with a pick, still need to gain $16M before the season starts
Fair play. I would be a bit skeptical about that just because Philadelphia has some significant deals on their payroll and has already taken on a bad deal this offseason in Petersen. If you’re moving Gudbranson out, I think you’re packaging him with a pick as a cap dump, but he does have some trade protection, so it could be difficult. I think keeping the status quo and burying him in the minors until you *have* to trade him is probably the most likely scenario
Totally — if Chicago isn’t on Gudbranson’s limited NTC
I think if you go to Gudbranson and say “hey, Chicago or Cleveland, it’s up to you”, he’ll pick Chicago.
If the Flyers and Blue Jackets want to do the Hayes trade it can still work with cap room to spare. The Flyers could retain up to 50% of it or include a third team as well. They could get his cap hit to about $3.5 mil if the Blue Jackets are willing to give some more value in the trade.
no thanks. has no trade value and too much term left.
Jarmo is taking a page outta Jimmy Rutherford’s playbook, with all these early deals. But it is costing him.
Looks like he will be shopping Bean or Gudbranson soon. Gudbranson will need a sweetener or retained salary.
I think he’ll shop Bean and Peeke before Gudy.
They have 2 good prospects that are ready to take the leap some time this year also, in Cuelamons and Juricek, both at RD, so some movement will be necessary before the season and sometime during to bring them up!
Nice player, but man that’s an expensive contract…especially when he’s going out in front of a below-average goaltender.
To buy out last 2 years: 2.85, 2.85, 1.7, 1,7
Is Elvis below average or was the defense embarrassingly bad? Or was it both?
Both, at least this year. He had the worst goals saved above expected (-25.9) of any goalie in the league this year – in just 30 games. He’d been average or better the three seasons prior, though.
But his best friend hadn’t been tragically killed yet. Hopes are high for a new goalie coach to get him back on track, but the team is in trouble if he can’t.
Jarmo’s playing NHL23 GM mode
Columbus needed to do something big to avoid mediocrity… This (and the Provorov trade) are the big change. I’m not 100% sold on Merzlikins in net, but I also don’t think he’s nearly as bad as last season’s numbers. Would not be shocked if Columbus went after someone with a bit more stability for a tandem.
That said though, Columbus goes from a bottom feeder club to a playoff bubble team with these trades. I am excited to see if Gaudreu and Laine step their game up and get them into the postseason.
Congrats, you might not be the worst team in the Metro next year CBJ.
Can someone explain what the Jackets are doing? I see no clear direction with this team