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Columbus Blue Jackets Sign Alexander Texier to ELC

By Lansing Murphy

COPENHAGEN, DENMARK - MAY 4, 2018: France's Hugo Gallet, Russia's Pavel Datsyuk, and France's Alexandre Texier (L-R) fight for the puck in their 2018 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship Group A Preliminary Round match at Royal Arena. Alexander Demianchuk/TASS (Photo by Alexander DemianchukTASS via Getty Images)
COPENHAGEN, DENMARK - MAY 4, 2018: France's Hugo Gallet, Russia's Pavel Datsyuk, and France's Alexandre Texier (L-R) fight for the puck in their 2018 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship Group A Preliminary Round match at Royal Arena. Alexander Demianchuk/TASS (Photo by Alexander DemianchukTASS via Getty Images) /
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The Columbus Blue Jackets top pick in the 2017 NHL Draft has signed his entry level contract.

Columbus Blue Jackets head man Jarmo Kekalainen announced that the team has signed Alexander Texier to a three year entry level contract. The 18-year-old French center just completed his first season playing for KalPa in Finland.

Texier was Columbus’ top pick in the 2017 NHL Draft. He was picked in the second round at number 45 after the Jackets traded prospect Keegan Kolesar in exchange for the pick.

As the 45th overall pick, Texier is the highest French player ever drafted into the NHL. He proved he was worth his high draft slot in his first season playing in Liiga. Widely regarded as the third best league in Europe (behind the KHL and SHL) Finland boast an impressive top tier league where Texier impressed.

Related Story: Texier's Start in Liiga

Texier finished fourth in the league in under-19 skaters finishing only behind the #3  and #24 overall pick from 2017 and an expected top 15 pick in this years draft. The young center had 13 goals and nine assist for 22 points. Texier did this all while averaging low ice time and having no consistent power play opportunities.

Texier’s Future with the Columbus Blue Jackets

Texier is a fast, skilled scoring center that has a bright future. The team was thrilled to draft him in the second round as they considered him a first round talent.

Texier still has one more year left on his Liiga contract and will spend the 2018-2019 year in Finland. He is still relatively small and is taken off pucks by more physical players.

That deficiency in his game though is rapidly improving. Texier finished his season representing France in the World Championships where he was regularly seen laying hits on his opponents and he looked much stronger on the puck than he did in November.

Another year in Liiga will allow him to continue to grow his two way game while increased ice time with KalPa will give him more scoring chances.

Next: Jonathan Davidsson Drives Through the SHL Playoffs

Texier joins Jonathan Davidsson as the second draft pick from the 2017 year to sign his ELC. Both young centers are a part of a promising group of youngsters the Jackets look to draft and develop in house.

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