The Buffalo Sabres acquired Eric Robinson in a trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets on Wednesday in exchange for a conditional seventh-round pick in the 2025 NHL draft. This provides a fresh start to Robinson, who had struggled to secure a regular role in the Blue Jackets’ lineup during the current season.

Since arriving in Columbus as an undrafted player in 2017, Robsinson scored 38 goals and 82 points in 266 career appearances. Scoring a career-high 12 goals last season, the left wing managed to net only one goal in seven games this season. Meanwhile, the Sabres received an experienced left wing, assigning forward Brandon Biro to AHL Rochester to free up room in the roster.

Buffalo is in need of reinforcements to bolster its roster, particularly after losing four straight games. With Zemgus Girgensons expected to miss another week due to a lower-body injury, Robinson is expected to provide much experience in checking-line and penalty-killing roles.

The post Buffalo Sabres Acquire Eric Robinson appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Alexandre Texier is set to return to the Columbus Blue Jackets for the 2023-24 NHL season after spending a year playing closer to home for personal reasons. A native of Saint-Martin-d’Hères, France, Texier played for Zurich in the Swiss National League following a recommendation of the NHL/NHLPA substance abuse and behavioral health program to step away from Columbus.

Texier revealed that he decided to move to Europe as a means of being closer to his family as he experienced personal issues. He was previously granted a leave of absence by the Blue Jackets in March 2022 when he was sidelined with a fractured finger.

“Alexandre Texier is an outstanding, young player who is an important part of our team and we are excited that he will be rejoining the club as expected next season,” Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen announced. “His well-being has been our sole priority, and we couldn’t be happier that he is ready to resume what is a very promising NHL career at this time.”

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Coach Brad Larsen was dismissed from his position by the Columbus Blue Jackets in a move that general manager Jarmo Kekalainen called a necessary change. This comes after Larsen coached the Blue Jackets for the past two seasons, failing to make the playoffs on both occasions.

“We need a change. That became clear that we need a change,” Larsen stated before insisting, “I’m not going to dissect the strengths and weaknesses of the coaches that got let go today, out of respect to them. But it was a lot of things that factored in that made us come to this conclusion, and it was absolutely necessary to make these moves.”

During Larsen’s time in charge, the Blue Jackets lost 102 of their 164 NHL games. In addition to finishing last in the Eastern Conference last season, Columbus also finished 31st out of all 32 NHL teams overall.

Larsen is the third coach already to lose his job since the conclusion of the NHL’s regular season. Dallas Eakins was fired by the Anaheim Ducks after four seasons, while Peter Laviolette was dismissed from the Washington Capitals after three years.

The post Blue Jackets Fire Coach Brad Larsen Following Playoff Failure appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The Columbus Blue Jackets and winger Oliver Bjorkstrand agreed to a five-year extension that will keep the 25-year-old player with the franchise through the 2025-26 NHL season. The team confirmed the news on Wednesday, revealing that Bjorkstrand will earn $27 million throughout the deal.

“Just very happy that I had the opportunity to sign that kind of contract and set up my future,” said Bjorkstrand after inking the contract. “Very, very pumped about it.”

Bjorkstrand had an impressive season in 2019-20, leading the team with 21 goals while also adding 15 assists and 162 shots. And he did it despite just playing 49 games.

This prompted the Blue Jackets’ front office to act fast and lock Bjorkstrand to a long-term deal without letting him hit free agency next offseason.

“He is a dangerous offensive player, and we believe he will be an even more impactful player for us as he continues to develop and mature in this league,” said general manager Jarmo Kekalainen.

The Blue Jackets drafted Bjorkstrand in the third round of the 2013 NHL Draft. He made his NHL debut during the 2015-16 season and currently has 246 games under his belt in the league. He scored 65 goals while adding 68 assists.

The post Blue Jackets Sign Winger Oliver Bjorkstrand to 5-Year, $27 Million Extension appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Center Pierre-Luc Dubois is the only remaining restricted free agent left in NHL, but Columbus Blue Jackets are confident that won’t be the case for too long.

Speaking with media earlier this week, Blue Jackets’ general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said that the team is “100 percent sure” they’ll have Dubois under contract and on the roster before the training camp kicks off next month.

“I’m 100 percent sure it will get done,” said Kekalainen.

Kekalainen’s optimism stems from the fact that Blue Jackets were in a similar position before and have always managed to lock down their restricted free agents.

We’ve been in this situation before where we’ve had RFAs that want to take their time to agree on a contract, and we respect that, and they have that right,” he added. “But I’m confident he’ll be signed before training camp starts.”

Blue Jackets would certainly like to get the deal as quickly as possible in order to find out how much room they will have under the salary cap to make other moves. The team has several needs they need to address, including the replacement for injured veteran Gustav Nyquist, and are looking to the free agency market to do so.

Pierre-Luc Dubois was arguably Columbus’ best player last season, contributing with 18 goals and 31 assists for team-leading 49 points. He was also productive in the Stanley Cup playoffs, managing four goals and six assists in 10 games.

So far in his NHL career, Dubois, who was Blue Jackets’ third overall pick in 2016, played 234 games in which he scored 65 goals and dished 93 assists for a total of 158 points.

The post Blue Jackets “100 Percent Sure” They’ll Re-Sign RFA Pierre-Luc Dubois appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Columbus Blue Jackets announced on Thursday that they have signed goalie Elvis Merzlikins to an extension. Merzlikins will stay with the organization until 2022 and will reportedly earn $4 million a year.

The extension represents a reward for Merzlikins’ good form this year, as he was had 2.35 goals-against average and a .923 save percentage, which were third in the league among goalies that played at least 30 games. He also had five shutouts ranking only behind Connor Hellebuyck of the Winnipeg Jets.

“He is quick, athletic and driven to succeed and we are excited to see what the future holds for Elvis and our hockey club,” said Jackets’ general manager Jarmo Kekalainen.

Elvis Merzlikins was drafted 76^th overall by the Blue Jackets back in 2014, but he didn’t come to NHL until this season. Merzlikins entered the season as Columbus backup but got a chance to play in December when starter Joonas Korpisalo suffered a knee injury in late December.

Since then, Merzlikins went 12-5-4 which included an impressive eight games winning streak during which he had 1.00 goals-against average, .967 save percentage, and five shutouts.

“You have to learn how to handle that pressure. This year was an awesome year to learn,” said Merzlikins after inking the deal. “I believe now I will understand what to do and how to handle it.”

The post Blue Jackets Sign Goalie Elvis Merzlikins to a 2-Year Extension appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The Columbus Blue Jackets put 4 past the Carolina Hurricanes to win the game 4-1 and make it five wins in six games on Saturday. The Buffalo Sabres won it late against the Minnesota Wild while San Jose beat St. Louis Blues 4-0.

Sharks’ Erik Karlsson got his first goal with the new team five minutes before the end of the first period thanks to a rebound from goalie Chad Johnson.

“It’s nice to finally get one in the back of the net,” Karlsson said. “But at the end of the day, this is a great win. We played well for 60 minutes. That’s something we haven’t done well over the course of this year so far, so it’s nice to get that.”

The 32-year-old was acquired from Ottawa this past season. He came in with a -9 rating but was the difference in Saturday’s win as his goal and assist helped San Jose win.

In Minnesota, the Wild were stunned after blowing a 2-0 goal lead to lose 3-2 to the Buffalo Sabres at home. Jason Pominville’s last-minute goal broke the tie with one minute and 30 seconds remaining to lead the Sabres to their fifth straight win.

Elsewhere, Cam Atkinson inspired the Hurricanes to their fifth win this season with a hat-trick and an assist on Saturday night. Center Pierre-Luc Dubois contributed two assists as well to defeat the Blue Jackets 4-1. Sebastian Aho scored Columbus’ only goal of the night but his sixth this season.

The post Blue Jackets, Buffalo Sabres and San Jose Sharks win in Saturday’s NHL Game Night appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Right winger Cam Atkinson and the Columbus Blue Jackets have agreed to a 7-year extension, the team announced on Friday. The deal is worth $41.125 million and will keep Atkinson with the club through the 2024-25 NHL season. The deal was confirmed on the Blue Jackets’ official Twitter account.

#CBJ sign @CamAtkinson13 to a SEVEN-YEAR extension!https://t.co/QjXvoAQ1FG

— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) November 17, 2017

“Cam Atkinson has played an integral role in the growth of our team over the past four seasons and we couldn’t be happier that he will remain a Columbus Blue Jacket for many years to come,” – said club’s General Manager Jarmo Kekalainen. “He has improved every year he’s been here and has become a player our team can use in all situations. We believe his best years are still in front of him.“

Atkinson was also glad that the deal was successfully done and that he can focus on playing now.

“It’s exciting.” – he said during Q&A for Blue Jackets official website. “I couldn’t be happier. I think it was maybe weighing on my shoulders a little bit. Now, I can get back to just having fun, playing my game and winning some hockey games.“

Atkinson also added that he didn’t think about exploring unrestricted free agency because of his loyalty to the team and desire to finish his career in Columbus.

Cam Atkinson was selected by Columbus Blue Jackets in the sixth round of 2008 NHL Entry Draft as 157th overall. He signed his first professional contract with the Blue Jackets in 2011 and played 27 games, ending the season with 7 goals and 7 assists. Atkinson established himself as a solid performer, but the 2016–17 season was the one where Atkinson put his best performance which ultimately landed him this contract extension. During his NHL career, Atkinson registered 125 goals and 108 assists for 233 points in 397 games.

The post Winger Cam Atkinson Signs 7-year Contract Extension with Columbus Blue Jackets appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The Buffalo Sabres acquired Eric Robinson in a trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets on Wednesday in exchange for a conditional seventh-round pick in the 2025 NHL draft. This provides a fresh start to Robinson, who had struggled to secure a regular role in the Blue Jackets’ lineup during the current season.

Since arriving in Columbus as an undrafted player in 2017, Robsinson scored 38 goals and 82 points in 266 career appearances. Scoring a career-high 12 goals last season, the left wing managed to net only one goal in seven games this season. Meanwhile, the Sabres received an experienced left wing, assigning forward Brandon Biro to AHL Rochester to free up room in the roster.

Buffalo is in need of reinforcements to bolster its roster, particularly after losing four straight games. With Zemgus Girgensons expected to miss another week due to a lower-body injury, Robinson is expected to provide much experience in checking-line and penalty-killing roles.

The post Buffalo Sabres Acquire Eric Robinson appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Alexandre Texier is set to return to the Columbus Blue Jackets for the 2023-24 NHL season after spending a year playing closer to home for personal reasons. A native of Saint-Martin-d’Hères, France, Texier played for Zurich in the Swiss National League following a recommendation of the NHL/NHLPA substance abuse and behavioral health program to step away from Columbus.

Texier revealed that he decided to move to Europe as a means of being closer to his family as he experienced personal issues. He was previously granted a leave of absence by the Blue Jackets in March 2022 when he was sidelined with a fractured finger.

“Alexandre Texier is an outstanding, young player who is an important part of our team and we are excited that he will be rejoining the club as expected next season,” Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen announced. “His well-being has been our sole priority, and we couldn’t be happier that he is ready to resume what is a very promising NHL career at this time.”

The post Alexandre Texier to Rejoin Blue Jackets Ahead of New Season appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Coach Brad Larsen was dismissed from his position by the Columbus Blue Jackets in a move that general manager Jarmo Kekalainen called a necessary change. This comes after Larsen coached the Blue Jackets for the past two seasons, failing to make the playoffs on both occasions.

“We need a change. That became clear that we need a change,” Larsen stated before insisting, “I’m not going to dissect the strengths and weaknesses of the coaches that got let go today, out of respect to them. But it was a lot of things that factored in that made us come to this conclusion, and it was absolutely necessary to make these moves.”

During Larsen’s time in charge, the Blue Jackets lost 102 of their 164 NHL games. In addition to finishing last in the Eastern Conference last season, Columbus also finished 31st out of all 32 NHL teams overall.

Larsen is the third coach already to lose his job since the conclusion of the NHL’s regular season. Dallas Eakins was fired by the Anaheim Ducks after four seasons, while Peter Laviolette was dismissed from the Washington Capitals after three years.

The post Blue Jackets Fire Coach Brad Larsen Following Playoff Failure appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The Columbus Blue Jackets and winger Oliver Bjorkstrand agreed to a five-year extension that will keep the 25-year-old player with the franchise through the 2025-26 NHL season. The team confirmed the news on Wednesday, revealing that Bjorkstrand will earn $27 million throughout the deal.

“Just very happy that I had the opportunity to sign that kind of contract and set up my future,” said Bjorkstrand after inking the contract. “Very, very pumped about it.”

Bjorkstrand had an impressive season in 2019-20, leading the team with 21 goals while also adding 15 assists and 162 shots. And he did it despite just playing 49 games.

This prompted the Blue Jackets’ front office to act fast and lock Bjorkstrand to a long-term deal without letting him hit free agency next offseason.

“He is a dangerous offensive player, and we believe he will be an even more impactful player for us as he continues to develop and mature in this league,” said general manager Jarmo Kekalainen.

The Blue Jackets drafted Bjorkstrand in the third round of the 2013 NHL Draft. He made his NHL debut during the 2015-16 season and currently has 246 games under his belt in the league. He scored 65 goals while adding 68 assists.

The post Blue Jackets Sign Winger Oliver Bjorkstrand to 5-Year, $27 Million Extension appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Center Pierre-Luc Dubois is the only remaining restricted free agent left in NHL, but Columbus Blue Jackets are confident that won’t be the case for too long.

Speaking with media earlier this week, Blue Jackets’ general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said that the team is “100 percent sure” they’ll have Dubois under contract and on the roster before the training camp kicks off next month.

“I’m 100 percent sure it will get done,” said Kekalainen.

Kekalainen’s optimism stems from the fact that Blue Jackets were in a similar position before and have always managed to lock down their restricted free agents.

We’ve been in this situation before where we’ve had RFAs that want to take their time to agree on a contract, and we respect that, and they have that right,” he added. “But I’m confident he’ll be signed before training camp starts.”

Blue Jackets would certainly like to get the deal as quickly as possible in order to find out how much room they will have under the salary cap to make other moves. The team has several needs they need to address, including the replacement for injured veteran Gustav Nyquist, and are looking to the free agency market to do so.

Pierre-Luc Dubois was arguably Columbus’ best player last season, contributing with 18 goals and 31 assists for team-leading 49 points. He was also productive in the Stanley Cup playoffs, managing four goals and six assists in 10 games.

So far in his NHL career, Dubois, who was Blue Jackets’ third overall pick in 2016, played 234 games in which he scored 65 goals and dished 93 assists for a total of 158 points.

The post Blue Jackets “100 Percent Sure” They’ll Re-Sign RFA Pierre-Luc Dubois appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Columbus Blue Jackets announced on Thursday that they have signed goalie Elvis Merzlikins to an extension. Merzlikins will stay with the organization until 2022 and will reportedly earn $4 million a year.

The extension represents a reward for Merzlikins’ good form this year, as he was had 2.35 goals-against average and a .923 save percentage, which were third in the league among goalies that played at least 30 games. He also had five shutouts ranking only behind Connor Hellebuyck of the Winnipeg Jets.

“He is quick, athletic and driven to succeed and we are excited to see what the future holds for Elvis and our hockey club,” said Jackets’ general manager Jarmo Kekalainen.

Elvis Merzlikins was drafted 76^th overall by the Blue Jackets back in 2014, but he didn’t come to NHL until this season. Merzlikins entered the season as Columbus backup but got a chance to play in December when starter Joonas Korpisalo suffered a knee injury in late December.

Since then, Merzlikins went 12-5-4 which included an impressive eight games winning streak during which he had 1.00 goals-against average, .967 save percentage, and five shutouts.

“You have to learn how to handle that pressure. This year was an awesome year to learn,” said Merzlikins after inking the deal. “I believe now I will understand what to do and how to handle it.”

The post Blue Jackets Sign Goalie Elvis Merzlikins to a 2-Year Extension appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The Columbus Blue Jackets put 4 past the Carolina Hurricanes to win the game 4-1 and make it five wins in six games on Saturday. The Buffalo Sabres won it late against the Minnesota Wild while San Jose beat St. Louis Blues 4-0.

Sharks’ Erik Karlsson got his first goal with the new team five minutes before the end of the first period thanks to a rebound from goalie Chad Johnson.

“It’s nice to finally get one in the back of the net,” Karlsson said. “But at the end of the day, this is a great win. We played well for 60 minutes. That’s something we haven’t done well over the course of this year so far, so it’s nice to get that.”

The 32-year-old was acquired from Ottawa this past season. He came in with a -9 rating but was the difference in Saturday’s win as his goal and assist helped San Jose win.

In Minnesota, the Wild were stunned after blowing a 2-0 goal lead to lose 3-2 to the Buffalo Sabres at home. Jason Pominville’s last-minute goal broke the tie with one minute and 30 seconds remaining to lead the Sabres to their fifth straight win.

Elsewhere, Cam Atkinson inspired the Hurricanes to their fifth win this season with a hat-trick and an assist on Saturday night. Center Pierre-Luc Dubois contributed two assists as well to defeat the Blue Jackets 4-1. Sebastian Aho scored Columbus’ only goal of the night but his sixth this season.

The post Blue Jackets, Buffalo Sabres and San Jose Sharks win in Saturday’s NHL Game Night appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Right winger Cam Atkinson and the Columbus Blue Jackets have agreed to a 7-year extension, the team announced on Friday. The deal is worth $41.125 million and will keep Atkinson with the club through the 2024-25 NHL season. The deal was confirmed on the Blue Jackets’ official Twitter account.

#CBJ sign @CamAtkinson13 to a SEVEN-YEAR extension!https://t.co/QjXvoAQ1FG

— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) November 17, 2017

“Cam Atkinson has played an integral role in the growth of our team over the past four seasons and we couldn’t be happier that he will remain a Columbus Blue Jacket for many years to come,” – said club’s General Manager Jarmo Kekalainen. “He has improved every year he’s been here and has become a player our team can use in all situations. We believe his best years are still in front of him.“

Atkinson was also glad that the deal was successfully done and that he can focus on playing now.

“It’s exciting.” – he said during Q&A for Blue Jackets official website. “I couldn’t be happier. I think it was maybe weighing on my shoulders a little bit. Now, I can get back to just having fun, playing my game and winning some hockey games.“

Atkinson also added that he didn’t think about exploring unrestricted free agency because of his loyalty to the team and desire to finish his career in Columbus.

Cam Atkinson was selected by Columbus Blue Jackets in the sixth round of 2008 NHL Entry Draft as 157th overall. He signed his first professional contract with the Blue Jackets in 2011 and played 27 games, ending the season with 7 goals and 7 assists. Atkinson established himself as a solid performer, but the 2016–17 season was the one where Atkinson put his best performance which ultimately landed him this contract extension. During his NHL career, Atkinson registered 125 goals and 108 assists for 233 points in 397 games.

The post Winger Cam Atkinson Signs 7-year Contract Extension with Columbus Blue Jackets appeared first on SportzBonanza.