Blue Jackets sign Gudbranson to 4-year deal with $4M AAV

The Columbus Blue Jackets signed defenseman Erik Gudbranson to a four-year deal with an average annual value of $4 million, the team announced Wednesday.

Gudbranson spent the 2021-22 season with the Calgary Flames.

"Adding experience, size, and toughness to our blue line was a priority for us this summer and Erik Gudbranson fits that bill perfectly," Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said. "He also has tremendous character and will be a great addition to our leadership group."

Gudbranson, 30, put up six goals and 11 assists in 78 games with the Flames while averaging just over 18 minutes per contest. He also ranked fifth on the team with 145 hits and third with 92 blocks.

The Ottawa native logged one assist in 12 games for Calgary in the playoffs.

Selected by the Florida Panthers third overall in the 2010 draft, Gudbranson has 94 points in 641 career contests.