JULY 22, 2022
COLUMBUS, OHIO – The Columbus Blue Jackets have signed restricted free agent forward Patrik Laine to a four-year, $34.8 million contract extension ($8.7 million AAV) through the 2025-26 National Hockey League season, General Manager and Alternate Governor Jarmo Kekalainen announced today.
Laine, 24, has registered 176 goals and 151 assists for 327 points, including 61-44-105 on the power play, and added 163 penalty minutes, 25 game-winning goals and 1,165 shots on goal in 407 career NHL games with the Blue Jackets and Winnipeg Jets. He ranks ninth in the NHL in power play goals and 14th in goals since making his league debut in 2016-17 and has posted 20-plus goals and 50-plus points in five of his six NHL campaigns. He has added 8-8-16 and four penalty minutes in 24 career Stanley Cup Playoff outings.
“One of our priorities this summer was signing Patrik Laine to a contract extension. He is a special player, one of the truly elite goal scorers in the National Hockey League, and he has fit in extremely well with our group since his arrival,” said Kekalainen. “He is an integral part of the team we are building in Columbus, and we couldn’t be happier that he will continue to be a Blue Jacket for the foreseeable future.”
The 6-5, 216-pound winger has notched 36-41-77, 45 PIM, nine PP goals, seven GW goals and 246 shots in 101 career games with the Blue Jackets since being acquired in a trade from the Jets on Jan. 23, 2021. His 0.76 points-per-game are the fourth-highest in club history (min. 50 GP), trailing only Artemi Panarin (1.06), Ray Whitney (0.93) and Rick Nash (0.81).
Laine finished at a point-per-game pace for the first time in his career in 2021-22 after racking up 26-30-56, 24 PIM, five power play goals, seven game-winners and three overtime winners on 167 shots, while averaging 18:50 of ice time in 56 games with the Blue Jackets. He also ranked third-T in the NHL in OT winners, led the team in OT goals and GW goals and ranked second in goals and third in points and PPG.
A native of Tampere, Finland, Laine was originally selected by Winnipeg with the second overall pick at the 2016 NHL Draft. He earned NHL All-Rookie Team honors and made his All-Star Game debut in 2016-17 as he registered 36-28-64 and 26 penalty minutes in 73 games. In 2017-18, he set career highs in goals, points and power play goals with 44-26-70, 20 power play goals and 24 penalty minutes in 82 contests. He led the NHL in PP tallies and ranked second in goals that season.
Laine has represented Finland in various international competitions, including the 2016 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships, where he collected 7-6-13 in seven outings and led Finland to a gold medal. That same year, he helped his country win the silver medal at the World Championships, earning Best Forward and Most Valuable Player honors after notching 7-5-12 in 10 games. He also appeared in three games at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey tournament.
‐ CBJ ‐
Single game tickets for all home games played at Nationwide Arena during the 2022-23 season are on sale now. Full and partial season tickets for the Blue Jackets’ 2022-23 campaign are currently available for purchase. Information on all ticketing options can be obtained by calling (614) 246-3350 or visiting BlueJackets.com/ticketplans.
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