Blue Jackets sign Brendan Smith to one-year contract

At this point in time, the cap hit for Smith’s contract is not confirmed. However, the contract is a two-way deal, which means that the cap hit can’t exceed $975,000. His AHL salary is also not confirmed.

Smith was an unrestricted free agent after the conclusion of his one-year, $1 million contract with the Dallas Stars, who elected not to re-sign the defenseman. After he was unable to sign with a team in the summer, he joined the Blue Jackets in the preseason on a professional tryout contract. The Blue Jackets did not sign him after the conclusion of the preseason, so he continued to skate with their AHL affiliate, the Cleveland Monsters, until the two finally agreed to a deal on Monday.

Smith joins a Blue Jackets team who isn’t exactly pressed for NHL defensive depth, but could still use another body, especially with their defensive struggles this season. He gives them nine NHL-experienced defensemen, although Erik Gudbranson is currently out with an injury.

At this point in time, it’s unclear where Smith is expected to report to after signing his new contract. He hasn’t been placed on waivers yet, so for now it seems like he will report to the Blue Jackets. Columbus hasn’t revealed their lines for Monday’s game against the Washington Capitals, so it’s unclear if he will be playing in the lineup immediately, although you’d have to imagine that he will enter it shortly if they felt the need to sign him to a contract.

Smith got into 11 games with the Monsters when playing in the AHL, getting only one assist in those games.

The Blue Jackets will look to bounce back from Saturday’s 4-3 overtime loss to the Detroit Red Wings when they visit the Capitals on Monday at 7 p.m. EST. Columbus is currently sixth in the Metropolitan Division with an 11-8-3 record, but only need one point to get into a playoff spot.