We got contract news from the Blue Jackets on Friday. Though, not the contract news many people are anticipating. Still, the club signing Jake Christiansen is a noteworthy deal, and one that could be important as the team advances forward.
Christiansen earned this payday with the organization by working hard, being patient, and remaining consistent. Originally signed by the Jackets in March of 2020, he was an undrafted free agent from the Western Hockey League's Everett Silvertips. Many of us assumed he was just a minor league depth add for the franchise.
That's been mostly the case until this year. Over three seasons, he had cups of coffee in Columbus totaling 44 games, where he collected 7 points (1 goal). During that time, he became an integral piece for the Cleveland Monsters; scoring 40 goals and 140 points in 211 games over parts of 5 seasons.
His patience was rewarded this year, as he was given the opportunity to make the Blue Jackets out of training camp. In a year that could have taken his career in two wildly different directions, he won a job in the NHL and has stuck around.
Jake has played in all 45 games for the Jackets this season, and while he's "only" played at the exact same pace as his previous three years' experience (1 goal, 7 points); he's established himself as a reliable two-way player.
He's just getting the job done...
While his numbers don't seem all that strong for a guy who has been a big points producer at other stops; if you've watched the games, it's pretty easy to see why the Jackets extended Christiansen. He's been steady and reliable from an overall perspective, not standing out in any negative ways.
Really, the only times I can say he's truly grabbed my attention this year, are in those moments when he steps up and lays a big hit. This isn't something I expected to see so much in his game, especially not in his first full NHL season. That's fun to watch, but even when he's not throwing the body, he's getting the job done quietly and effectively.
This two year extension fits from a dollars perspective. Whether Jake remains on the third pairing or finds himself out of the lineup, this deal at under $1 million against the cap is far from restrictive to any other moves the team looks to make. This is a good value signing for a guy who plays hard, doesn't hurt the team, and fits into the group from a personal perspective. It's more likely that he plays above this deal and becomes a bargain value, in the end.