*Photo from NHL.com*
We have a sign and trade on our hands. The Columbus Blue Jackets have acquired D Damon Severson from the New Jersey Devils in exchange for a 2023 3rd round draft pick, according to both teams.
Prior to the trade, Severson and the Devils agreed to an 8 year, $50 million extension. The deal had to be completed before the trade in order for Severson to get 8 years instead of 7. Severson has a $6.25 million AAV and a full no trade clause for the first 4 seasons, followed by a modified no trade clause for the next 4 seasons.
The former second round pick Severson was a pending UFA with free agency set to open on July 1. He was set to have a strong market for his services in free agency as one of the better UFA's on the board. He gets a signing bonus in 6 of the 8 seasons of his contract.
Severson said of the sign and trade process that "It was a crazy process, but getting it done before July 1 where the rush would have happened is great. I couldn't be happier to go to Columbus. It was an interesting process, I've never been through something like that being in New Jersey so long. So, it kind of came together pretty quick, once New Jersey granted permission for Columbus to start speaking with us and obviously being so close."
Last season, Severson played well on the bottom defense pair in New Jersey. Severson scored 7 goals and had 26 assists, posting a +9 rating while averaging 19:57 of ice time, playing in 81 games. He had one goal and two assists in 12 playoff games last season.
Severson has played 9 years in the NHL, all in a Devils uniform. In that time, he has 58 goals and 205 assists, averaging 21:11 of ice time per game while posting a -120 rating in 647 games. He has averaged 18:45 of ice time per game in 16 playoff games, contributing a goal and two assists.
Columbus GM Jarmo Kekalainen said of Severson that "He's very well positioned all the time. He anticipates and reads the game well so he doesn't have to run around, but he's also got size and physicality to him and we can play him in all situations, on special teams. He's also a leader, which is something that we wanted to add into our group. He's a veteran defenseman that will bring in a lot of experience and leadership into our locker room as well."
By joining the Blue Jackets, Severson becomes the team's top defense option on the right side, with Adam Boqvist, Erik Gudbranson, David Jiricek, Andrew Peeke, and Nick Blankenburg also in the mix on the right side. Peeke, Gudbranson, and Boqvist are each signed for at least two more seasons.
Kekalainen said of the surplus of right shot defenseman that "I think that there's going to be lots of opportunities still in our top six. As we've learned with all the injuries, it's good to have depth. So it's going to be a lot of competition obviously for the positions on defense. I've always said that it's great to have internal competition. It pushes everybody to get better and pushes the team to get better."
The acquisition of Severson makes him the second notable addition on defense this offseason, joining left shot defenseman Ivan Provorov from the Philadelphia Flyers.
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