Blue Jackets left wing prospect Martin Rysavy has signed a two-year deal with Bílí Tygři Liberec of the Czech Extraliga, per a team release. It’s a significant return home for the 2021 seventh-round pick, who will see his exclusive signing rights with Columbus expire next summer should he honor the second year of his deal.
Rysavy, 21, spent most of his development in the Czech system and was drafted out of HC Vítkovice, although he spent most of the 2020-21 season on loan to second-tier club HC Přerov. After his selection, Rysavy took his talents to North America, but not under contract with Columbus. He’s spent the last three seasons in junior hockey, suiting up for the Western Hockey League’s Moose Jaw Warriors.
In Moose Jaw, the 6’3″, 210-lb winger was a solid secondary scorer with good size but not a game-breaking talent. His best year offensively came in 2023-24, finishing seventh on the club in scoring with 44 points (25 goals, 19 assists) in 63 games. He added a more respectable 16 points in 20 playoff games as the Warriors took home their first WHL championship in franchise history, also sending them to the Memorial Cup for the first time.
Unless Rysavy has a major breakout in Liberec, his draft rights will likely expire on June 1 next year, and he will become unaffiliated with the Blue Jackets. He does have an intriguing blend of physicality and goal-scoring ability that could have him resurface on the international free-agent market eventually, though. It’s a small damper on an otherwise strong 2021 class for the Jackets, who’ve already had four players (Kent Johnson, James Malatesta, Cole Sillinger, Stanislav Svozil) log NHL minutes.
Instead of signing all those seat fillers in Cleveland, they could’ve sign this prospect for an opportunity.