Blue Jackets Re-Sign Forward Mathieu Oliver to 2-Year Contract Extension

The Blue Jackets rewarded tough guy Mathieu Olivier with a 2-year contract extension on Wednesday, bringing him back to Central Ohio through the 2024-25 season.

The deal is a one-way contract that will pay Olivier $1.1 million in each of the next two seasons, effectively establishing him as a piece of the NHL roster through that entire time. Really, even if tough guys aren’t your thing, it makes a lot of sense to keep him around.

Olivier played in 66 games for the Blue Jackets this season, scoring 5 goals, 10 assists, and leading the team with 81 penalty minutes. He played the role of enforcer very well, standing up to the toughest guys from the opposing teams when called upon – but I thought he was also an effective forechecker when he was on the ice. And, he didn’t take a ton of bad penalties either.

Though it’s unfair to say he’ll be a big producer, his straight lines, up and down the ice game meshed well with Sean Kuraly and Eric Robinson on the team’s checking line. He’s not the best skater in the world, but he gets to where he needs to be, and aside from throwing his weight around, he went to the net hard and chipped in some goals when he got the opportunity.

The NHL seems to be heading back to a place where you need to have some of this grit on your roster to contend. The difference is, in today’s game, these guys have to take regular shifts and do other things to be effective. The Jackets seem to have found a guy that can do that in Olivier, even if it’s not perfect.

To that point, if you’re going to continue to bring along top prospects (especially when they’re still teenagers) – you need a guy like this. Look no further than what happened to Anaheim’s Troy Terry two seasons ago, after they traded away their enforcer. Teams will do whatever it takes to get under the skin of your best players, up to and including taking liberties.

Olivier earned this contract extension by doing one of the most difficult jobs in the game. His salary will only eat up 1.33% of the team’s available cap next season, so even if he’s only around when you absolutely need him, this is a deal that makes sense for the Jackets. It’s good to have him back.