Blue Jackets To Re-Sign Erik Gudbranson

The Columbus Blue Jackets are bringing back a familiar face to their defensive corps. According to Aaron Portzline of The Athletic, the Blue Jackets are signing veteran defenseman Erik Gudbranson to a one-year, $1.75MM contract.

Gudbranson, 34, will now have a fifth season in Columbus. The former third-overall pick of the 2010 NHL Draft signed a four-year, $16MM contract with the Blue Jackets ahead of the 2022-23 campaign.

He didn’t get off to a horrific start with Columbus, but it wasn’t great. In his first two years, Gudbranson scored seven goals and 39 points in 148 games with a -36 rating, blocking 307 shots and delivering 211 hits. He had some decent defensive metrics at even strength, but Gudbranson wasn’t necessarily the shutdown defenseman that the Blue Jackets thought he would be.

However, beginning in the 2024-25 season, it came off the rails. Due to significant injury concerns over the past two years, Gudbranson has been limited to 53 games, quickly making his $4MM salary a sunk cost. Still, in an odd twist, Gudbranson’s defensive play has actually improved over the past two years, albeit in far fewer appearances.

Regardless, even if he suffers another injury, the Blue Jackets have much less to lose on a $1.75MM salary. He will be a fine option for Columbus on the right side of their bottom pairing and should be a quality penalty killer, as well.