The Columbus Blue Jackets took care of another piece of business on Wednesday. One striker who worked hard for his game has been rewarded.
The Blue Jackets and forward Mathieu Olivier have agreed to a two-year extension with AAV worth $1.1 million. It is set to become the RFA. The new deal buys one RFA year and one UFA year.
Olivier was purchased by the Blue Jackets from the Nashville Predators prior to the start of last season in exchange for a fourth round pick. At the time, the team was missing a physical component to their game.
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As it turns out, Olivier used his work ethic and determination to earn him his new contract. He also got into a lot of the dirty work of answering the buzzer in several fights. He didn’t hold back on anyone who helped earn the respect of his teammates.
Olivier’s valuable contributions
Here’s what Jarmo Kekalainen, GM Jarmo Kekalainen of the Blue Jackets, had to say about Olivier.
“Mathieu’s work ethic and dedication is tremendous and he has become a valuable contributor to our organization on and off the ice. He brings size, physique and personality to our lineup and we are excited that he will continue to be part of the Blue Jackets family.”
Olivier posted career highs in goals, assists, points and games played with his season going 5-10-15 in 66 games. He had 81 penalty minutes, which included nine games. He had three straight games against Anaheim, San Jose, and Calgary where he scored a fight.
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It was clear that teams had to answer to both Olivier and Eric Goodbranson when things went wrong. Teams are accustomed to imposing themselves on the Blue Jackets without being threatened with resistance in previous seasons. This is no longer the case.
But then Olivier really clicked a line with Sean Coralli and Eric Robinson. This line was sometimes the most effective line in the game due to the various elements of speed and physicality that it had.
Predictions for next season
We should expect the same from Oliver going forward. He will continue to be a player in your face and play an honest and straightforward game. It is very likely that he will also find himself in double-digit fights. With so much skill in the squad, having a player like Olivier is a big deal especially for younger players.
Olivier’s style matches what incoming coach Mike Babcock is looking for. Depending on how much Babcock wants to move his lines, he tends to rely on veterans especially when trying to protect bullets. Don’t be surprised if we see a slight uptick from His average ice time is 11:01 Especially if he plays Robinson and Coralie again.
Oliver also doesn’t get enough credit for the other items in his game. He underestimated the pace and had some finishing touches when he had the chance. Opponents will focus on closing down skill players. Olivier and the bottom six could see attacking opportunities against weaker competition as a result.
Good deal
All things considered, the Olivier extension is a win for everyone involved. The player gets a raise because both years of his deal amount to $1.1 million in salary. The team gets a reliable bottom six winger who can influence the game in multiple ways.
That now leaves the Blue Jackets with four RFAs to sign: Tim Berni, Marcus Bjork, Trey Fix-Wolansky and Carson Meyer. Gavin Bayreuther and Lane Pederson are waiting for UFA. At this point, it is believed that both players will hit the market.