The Columbus Blue Jackets announced today that newly acquired defenseman Jake Bean signed an extension with the team. It’s a three-year deal costing Columbus $2.33M annually. Here is the breakdown:
2021-22: $1.9M
2022-23: $2.2M
2023-24: $2.9M
This could wind up being an outstanding value for the Blue Jackets. Although Bean is only 23 and has just 44 NHL games under his belt, the 2016 first-round pick has shown flashes of immense upside in his young pro career. In his rookie season in 2020-21, Bean recorded 12 points in 42 games despite playing very limited bottom-pair minutes and without a consistent power play role. At 1.18 points per 60 minutes already without prime power play opportunity and playing with bottom-pair talent, Bean will only go up from there with a top-four role seemingly waiting for him in Columbus. At 20+ minutes per night and put in better scoring opportunities, it would not be a surprise to see the young blue liner push for at least 30+ points.
With all that said, Bean does need to continue to grow in the defensive aspects of the game. It is that development rather than his offensive potential that will dictate his ceiling in Columbus. The re-tooling Blue Jackets need well-rounded, all-situations players and Bean is still working on becoming that.
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