NHL: Werenski agrees to three-year, $15-million extension with Blue Jackets

You can take one player off the NHL’s long list of restricted free agents. The Columbus Blue Jackets signed star defenceman Zach Werenski to a three-year, $15-million (U.S.) extension on Monday.

One of the team’s priorities was signing the 22-year-old to a multi-year deal before camp opens Thursday. Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen said Monday the team “couldn’t be happier that he will continue to be a foundational player.”

The deal appears to be a bargain for the Blue Jackets, though Werenski will make $7 million in the third year of the contract and then be eligible for arbitration, when he will likely be able to earn at least that much for another season.

Werenski and defenceman Seth Jones have teamed up to give Columbus one of the best blue-line pairings in the NHL. He finished last season with 11 goals and 33 assists. In 237 career games in his first three seasons, he has 38 goals and 90 assists.

There are still a host of unsigned restricted free agents, including Toronto’s Mitch Marner, Winnipeg’s Patrik Laine, Colorado’s Mikko Rantanen and Tampa Bay’s Brayden Point.

DEVILS WANT ZACHA: New Jersey Devils general manager Ray Shero said he is still attempting to sign centre Pavel Zacha amid concerns the former first-round draft pick will play in the Kontinental Hockey League this season.

Shero said the Devils still retain the restricted free agent’s rights after issuing him a qualifying offer this summer, and he hopes to get a deal completed with training camp opening this week.

The GM said he is unaware if Zacha has signed with a KHL team, though he adds that possibility was raised by the player’s agent during a recent conversation.

Shero said playing in the KHL is “not the advice I would give (Zacha),” adding that “it’s a long way back to the NHL” if he goes that route.

Zacha’s agent, Patrik Stefan, did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment.

Shero called Zacha an “important player” entering a key year in his development. The 22year-old Zacha is from the Czech Republic and had a career-best 13 goals in 61 games last season.