Damon Severson Was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets by the New Jersey Devils on Friday after signing an eight-year, $50 million contract with New Jersey. It has an average annual value of $6.25 million and runs through the 2030-31 season.
Severson, who would have become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, would be ineligible to sign a contract longer than seven years if he became an NFL player.
New Jersey received a third round selection in the 2023 NHL Draft.
The 28-year-old defender has had 33 points (seven goals, 26 assists) in 82 games for the Devils this season and three points (one goal, two assists) in 12 Stanley Cup games.
He was the Devils’ longest-serving player (nine seasons).
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“Damon is a versatile defenseman with great vision, moves the puck very well, has a good size (6-foot-2, 205 pounds) and can play heavy minutes on both ends of the ice,” said Jarmo Kikalainen, Blue Jackets general manager. . “We are excited to have him join the Blue Jackets as he will be a very important part of our Blueline for many years to come.”
Selected by New Jersey in the second round (60th overall) of the 2012 NHL Draft, Severson has 263 points (58 goals, 205 assists) in 647 regular season games. He has played 16 NHL postseason games.
The trade comes three days after the Blue Jackets acquired the defenseman Ivan Provorov in a three-team deal that includes the Philadelphia Flyers and Los Angeles Kings.
Severson and Provorov join the Blue Jackets defense, which includes Zach VerenskyAnd Eric GoodbransonAnd Andrew Bank And Adam Buqvistwho each signed for at least the next two seasons.
The Blue Jackets went 25-48-9 this season, finishing last in the Eastern Conference and 31st in the NHL, ahead of only the Anaheim Ducks. Brad Larsen was sacked as coach on 15 April and a replacement was not appointed.
The Devils (52-22-8) finished second in the D.C. Division this season, defeating the New York Rangers in seven games in the first round of the Eastern Conference to win a playoff series for the first time since 2012; They lost to the Carolina Hurricanes in the second round.