Blue Jackets' Murray accepts 1-year qualifying offer
Columbus Blue Jackets restricted free-agent defenseman Ryan Murray accepted his one-year qualifying offer and will be paid $2.825 million for the 2018-19 season, the team announced Saturday.
Murray, the club's second overall pick in the 2012 NHL Draft, has failed to live up to the hype of being such a high selection, but will get a chance to prove himself on a one-year deal. He'll be an RFA once again next summer, but will have arbitration rights.
Columbus apparently had no interest in discussing a long-term extension with Murray, according to The Athletic's Aaron Portzline.
Injuries are the main reason Murray has been labeled as a draft bust. Over the last two seasons, he's missed 64 games. In 2014-15, he only made 12 appearances in the Blue Jackets' lineup.
However, it wouldn't be surprising if Murray, who will be 25, excels next season if he can have an injury-free year. After all, defensemen tend to take longer to develop compared to forwards, and his growth has presumably been hindered by all the time he's missed.
The Blue Jackets now have roughly $8.134 million left in cap space, per Cap Friendly, and their only unsigned RFA is forward Oliver Bjorkstrand.