Kraken acquire Oliver Bjorkstrand from Blue Jackets for draft picks

The Columbus Blue Jackets have freed up cap space by dealing Oliver Bjorkstrand to the Seattle Kraken.

The Blue Jackets announced the deal Friday, a move that sees them acquire a third- and fourth-round pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. Bjorkstrand, 27, inked a five-year, $27 million deal with the Jackets in 2021. Now entering the second year of the deal, he had a 10-team no-trade list as a clause on his contract.

“It was a difficult decision to trade Oliver, who has given so much to our organization over the past seven years,” Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen said in a statement. “However, a move like this needed to be made in order for us to be salary cap compliant after the Johnny Gaudreau and Patrik Laine signings.

“We are thankful for Oliver’s many contributions to our club, on and off the ice, and wish he and his wife, Jill, all the best in Seattle.”

After inking Johnny Gaudreau in free agency and then locking up Patrik Laine to a four-year deal earlier in the day, something had to shake out for Columbus to be cap-compliant next season. This deal sees the team free up $5.4 million but lose an effective player.

Bjorkstrand just wrapped up his seventh year in the NHL in what was his most productive season yet. In 80 games, he scored career highs in goals (28) and points (57) while matching a previous career best in assists, with 29.

A strong two-way driver of play, Bjorkstrand will fit in well on a Kraken team that has been parched of offence in its inaugural season.