When the Blue Jackets protected Eric Robinson for the expansion draft, it was clear that they had him in their future plans.
Today, Robinson signed a two-year contract extension that will keep him in Columbus through the 2023-24 season. His previous contract was set to run out after this upcoming season, and he would have been an unrestricted free agent.
His cap hit will be $1.6 million for both the 2022-23 and 2023-24 NHL seasons.
Eric Robinson, signed 2x$1.6M by CBJ, is a good defensive forechecking bottom-six forward. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/YX5GTkwThL
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) July 28, 2021
Robinson appeared in all 56 games for Columbus this season, one of just four Blue Jackets to do so. Two of the other three - Seth Jones and Cam Atkinson - are no longer with the team.
"Eric has provided size, speed, and competitiveness to our lineup since making his NHL debut in 2018," said general manager Jarmo Kekalainen.
"He is a young player that has steadily improved each year. We believe he has just begun to realize his potential and as he continues to improve, will have a significant impact on our hockey club moving forward."
"He is a young player that has steadily improved each year. We believe he has just begun to realize his potential."– General Manager Jarmo Kekalainen
Robinson finished the 2020-21 season with eight goals and 10 assists for a career-high 18 points. In 51 games with the team during the 2019-20 season, he had seven goals and five assists.
The 26-year-old also saw a modest jump in ice time over the last two seasons, from averaging just under 11 minutes per game to over 12 in the just-concluded season. Expect another jump in minutes for the upcoming season, as Robinson has continued to impress the Blue Jackets organization.
