Jackets sign Swiss forward
The time has arrived for Gregory Hofmann to find out if he's an NHL player.
After becoming one of the top scorers in Switzerland's National League A, the Swiss forward signed a one-year contract Monday with the Blue Jackets for next season. It's a one-way deal that will pay Hoffmann $900,000 in the NHL or American Hockey League, but the goal is for the speedy 28-year-old to add scoring depth for the Blue Jackets.
Hofmann was selected by the Carolina Hurricanes in the fourth round of the 2011 NHL draft. Unable to get his signature on a contract, the Hurricanes traded his signing rights to Columbus on Feb. 13 for the Blue Jackets' 2022 seventhround pick.
If Hofmann turns into a viable NHL forward, the Jackets' return from the deal will be well worth it. They've struggled to score enough the past two seasons, especially the third and fourth lines, so adding Hofmann's speed and sharpshooting could boost either one.
The same can be said about forward Justin Danforth, a playmaking forward who's also 28 and signed one-year, oneway deal with the Jackets on May 3 worth $750,000. Danforth, the smaller of the two, racked up a lot of points the past three years in Finland (Liiga) and Russia (KHL), including 23 goals, 32 assists and 55 points in 58 games with Vityaz Podolsk this past season.
The hope now is that Danforth and Hofmann can contribute enough in Columbus to earn new NHL deals beyond next season. Hofmann, who led Switzerland with six goals at this year's world championship, already has one Blue Jacket pulling for him.
“He's really competitive,” said goalie Elvis Merzlikins, who became good friends with Hofmann while they were teammates in Switzerland with HC Lugano. “He's a great skater. He's really quick. Explosive. He has a great shot. He's a good friend, one of my best friends, so I'm really happy. I know that he's really happy. He's excited and he just can't wait for his chance.”