The Columbus Blue Jackets have announced that they have signed defenceman Dean Kukan to a two-year contract extension. The extension carries a cap hit of $1.65 million and carries him through the 2021-21 season.
Dean Kukan Signs Two-Year Extension with the Blue Jackets
?Kuks signs two-year deal through 2021-22 season?https://t.co/1sMa6l5soc
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) February 7, 2020
Despite being sidelined due to a knee injury, Kukan inked a new deal with the Blue Jackets that will keep him with the club for at least another two years.
In 33 games this season, Kukan has scored one goal and added four assists while averaging 15:58 minutes of ice time per game.
Over his career, Kukan has scored one goal and 13 assists for 14 points in 77 games.
Kukan was originally signed as a free agent by the Blue Jackets on July 1, 2015.
Kekalainen Solidifies Blue Jackets Defence Depth
When speaking of the Kukan deal, Jarmo Keklainen said; “Dean is a smart and quick, puck-moving defenseman that has improved steadily since joining our organization in 2015. “We are very happy that he will continue to be an important part of our club’s deep and talented group of defensemen.”
Kukan rounds out a solid defence group lead by Zach Werenski and Seth Jones. This group along with goaltenders Elvis Merzlikins and Joonas Korpisalo have been outstanding this season. They currently sit second for least goals against with 133. Trailing only the Atlantic Division-leading Boston Bruins.
The 26-year-old has represented his country Switzerland at both the IIHF World Junior Championships as well as the IIHF World Hockey Championships. He also helped the Lake Erie/Cleveland Monsters capture the Calder Cup Trophy during his time in the AHL in 2016.
While his numbers don’t jump out at you, as Kekalainen mentions is a very capable puck mover who skates extremely well. He possesses the tools teams want in a defenceman in today’s NHL. The signing guarantees that the Blue Jackets will keep most of their current defence group intact until the end of the 2021-22 season as they have five defenceman locked up until the end of that season.
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