Atkinson relieved to have $41M extension done
Cam Atkinson was eating dinner with Rangers defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk on Thursday night when John Davidson, the Blue Jackets’ president of hockey operations, called to congratulate Atkinson on his new seven-year, $41.125 million contract extension.
“(Shattenkirk) made me buy dinner,” Atkinson quipped.
The deal keeps Atkinson, 28, under contract with the Jackets through the 2024-25 season and makes the right wing the team’s second-highest paid forward ($5.875 million per season), behind Artemi Panarin ($6 million) and ahead of Brandon Dubinsky ($5.85 million).
It gives Atkinson a no-trade stipulation from now until June 15, 2020, and the remainder of the contract the Jackets can trade him to all but 10 teams designated by him. The deal gives the organization the assurance that it won’t lose their points leader the past two seasons for nothing as an unrestricted free agent on July 1.
Now, neither has to worry about the situation affecting his play.
“I hope it will clear his head and get him playing,” said coach John Tortorella, adding that he and Atkinson had a conversation about his contract situation Wednesday.
“As much as I would try to block it out, it’s really hard to … a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders, for sure,” said Atkinson, who started Friday’s game with four goals and two assists in 15 games. “It’s a relief it’s finally done and I can just focus on hockey now.”
Captain Nick Foligno noted that, “Cam wears his emotions on his sleeve a lot with that stuff. He’s a guy who cares a lot and likes to know where his future is, where he stands.”
Atkinson, selected by the Jackets in the sixth round (157th overall) of the 2008 NHL draft, ranks second in franchise history in goals (125) and game-winning goals (25), fourth in points (233), seventh in games played (397) and 10th in assists (108).
Last season, Atkinson established career highs in goals (35), assists (27) and points (62) and made his NHL All-Star game debut.
“He wants to be here,” Tortorella said. “If it’s a hometown discount, it doesn’t surprise me with Cam.”
“It’s no secret I’ve wanted to be here to start my career and finish my career,” said Atkinson, adding he hopes to play beyond this contract. “For me, it’s all about loyalty and family. …I know the direction this team is going. I know where I fit within the organization.”
Said Foligno: “It’s a huge piece of the puzzle we feel is important to go forward here. Guys were excited hearing the news. … It will boost our team, give us a little shot in the arm.”
General Manager Jarmo Kekalainen said negotiations with Atkinson’s agent, George Bazos, had been ongoing since before the season and ultimately they reached “a fair deal for both sides.”
“He’s still in his prime,” Kekalainen said. “To lock up a core player like that for the next seven years is obviously a big deal for our team.”
Noted Atkinson, “I feel like I haven’t reached my peak in my hockey capabilities.”
Kekalainen said it was important to secure Atkinson now because “the later you go, the more you risk he is probably going to walk into free agency and you get nothing. … A player of this caliber, if we couldn’t reach a deal, would probably be traded so we wouldn’t be wasting an asset.”
Savard scratched
Defenseman David Savard was a healthy scratch for the first time, following his secondmost ice time (22:41) of the season against Montreal on Tuesday. Gabriel Carlsson replaced him in the lineup.
Dalpe to Cleveland
Center Zac Dalpe was assigned to AHL Cleveland after he cleared waivers and was activated from injured reserve. Before that, Dalpe missed four games with an upper-body injury suffered against the Rangers on Nov. 6.