Mathieu Olivier was re-signed to a six-year, $18 million dollar contract by the Blue Jackets on Wednesday. His extension will carry a cap hit of $3m per year, in a front-loaded deal that will age just fine as the NHL's salary cap continues to rise. We love this deal for both sides.
Despite being only a season ticket holder and fan of the franchise and certainly not a credentialed media member; I've had the chance to interact with Mathieu Olivier of the Columbus Blue Jackets several times over the past few years since his trade to Columbus from the Nashville Predators in 2022.
What has stood out to me during these conversations is how genuine and down-to-earth he is, despite his reputation as a tough customer on the ice. He's a family man and always seems to smile when discussing his young two kids and his wife, and I know that he was thinking of them when he put pen to paper on a six-year, $3 million AAV extension to stay in Arch City this morning.
His off-ice value is boosted by his on-ice play.
Acquired as a relative unknown, Olivier was brought in to provide toughness to a team that was getting pushed around prior to 2022. He's done that, becoming arguably the most feared fighter in the entire NHL. But, he's also brought so much more to the mix; turning into a mainstay on the third line for the Blue Jackets, providing energy and even spending some time on the penalty kill.
Olivier is undoubtedly having a career season. He's produced a 12-9-21 line with 113 PIM, a -6 rating, all within a career high average in ice time with 14:06 TOI a night in this campaign. Some will decry that he's shooting an otherworldly 15% so far this year - by far a career high - and that this pace is unsustainable, and this is undoubtedly true.
But, there's more to "Ollie" than meets the eye with his stat line. In what has been one of the most emotionally difficult seasons inside the locker room in franchise history, Mathieu has become an outspoken voice both among the entire roster, and also within the team's leadership group as he's had the "A" patch added to his sweater several times this year.
In a time where mature voices and calming presences have been needed, Ollie has stepped up tremendously, and it's clear to see when observing the Jackets.
In addition to his leadership, Ollie has seemingly become a fan favorite and a bit of a "class clown" on the roster. He has also had plenty of highlight-worthy plays and moments this year and last. I'm guilty of grabbing a #24 Stadium Series jersey I proudly wore inside the Horseshoe this past Saturday, as Olivier scored a clutch wrap-around goal to extend the CBJ lead against Detroit:
Go besties! pic.twitter.com/23P3sHwNi6
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) March 4, 2025
I couldn't be happier to see Olivier in the Union Blue for a long time. With his recent play, leadership ability and calming presence in the locker room, he's proven that he is an essential part of what Don Waddell and Dean Evason are building in Columbus, and that he's committed to that vision long into the future.