Nutivaara signs 4-year extension
CALGARY, Alberta — The Blue Jackets signed Markus Nutivaara to a fouryear, $10.8 million contract extension through the 2021-22 season, securing the second-year defenseman who has become a fixture in their top four.
The new contract, which was signed Wednesday night and announced Thursday, carries an annual cap hit of $2.7 million. It will pay Nutivaara $2.5 million each of the first three seasons and $3.3 million in the final year of the deal. Nutivaara, whose salary this season is $817,500, was set to become a restricted free agent on July 1.
“I’m very excited,” Nutivaara said, but added, “I can still show more. I have more stuff to show. I’m not happy yet.”
Coach John Tortorella said the deal was good not only for Nutivaara, but also the franchise “because you can see him getting better and better.”
“The biggest bridge he has crossed is that he knows he belongs in the National Hockey League,” Tortorella said. “He’s not trying to make a (NHL) team and try to survive it. He thinks he can be a difference-maker. And that’s a change in mindset for Nuti. That’s where his confidence has grown.”
The 23-year-old from Finland started Thursday’s game against the Flames with six goals, 16 assists (22 points) and a plus-10 rating in 59 games this season, including three goals, an assist and a plus-3 rating the past six games.
Nutivaara scored his third goal in six games to cap the scoring in Tuesday’s 7-3 win at Edmonton.
“Nuti’s probably playing with the highest level of confidence that I’ve seen him since he’s been with us,” Tortorella said.
The Jackets’ seventh-round pick (189th overall) at the 2015 NHL draft, Nutivaara made his NHL debut last season, tallying two goals, five assists and a plus-7 rating in 66 games. He had one goal and one assist in two playoff games.
This season, Nutivaara has posted career highs in goals, assists and points, and ranks second among the team’s defensemen in plus/minus and third in goals.
Injured right wing Josh Anderson (sprained knee) participated in the team’s optional morning skate. Anderson has missed 15 games. … Jackets prospect Vitaly Abramov was nominated for the QMJHL’s Michel-Briere Trophy. Abramov is aiming to become the junior league’s first back-toback MVP since Sidney Crosby. … Sergei Bobrovsky made his fifth consecutive start and ninth in the past 10 games, tying his career high for games played (63) in a season. The Jackets used the same lineup as Tuesday’s, with defenseman Jack Johnson scratched for the fourth consecutive game.