The Blue Jackets acquired defenseman Damon Severson from the Devils in exchange for the 80th pick in the 2023 NHL Draft. The Devils signed him to an eight-year contract that carries a $6.25M annual cap hit through the 2030-31 season before trading him to Columbus in a sign-and-trade.
#CBJ's full press release on the Severson trade via @BlueJacketsPR pic.twitter.com/aqfqmwm0wo
— Coby Maeir (@CobyMaeir) June 9, 2023
The Jackets traded the No. 80 pick, which they acquired from Seattle for Oliver Bjorkstrand, so they could have exclusive negotiating rights with Severson while being the only team that could offer him an eight-year deal. Severson has a full no-trade clause through the first four years of the deal, a 20-team no-trade clause in year five, and a 12-team no-trade clause in the final three years of the deal, per capfriendly.com.
Damon Severson's contract also has trade protection:
— CapFriendly (@CapFriendly) June 9, 2023
Yr 1: Full NTC
Yr 2: Full NTC
Yr 3: Full NTC
Yr 4: Full NTC
Yr 5: 20 team no-trade
Yr 6: 12 team no-trade
Yr 7: 12 team no-trade
Yr 8: 12 team no-tradehttps://t.co/bQcrOvjvb5 https://t.co/D3ixPVg5pe
“Damon is a versatile defenseman who has great vision, moves the puck extremely well, has good size and can play heavy minutes at both ends of the ice,” general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said in the team's release. “We are excited to have him join the Blue Jackets as he will be a very important part of our blueline for many years to come.”
A special message from your new favorite Blue Jacket! pic.twitter.com/uW6uwrczOy
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) June 9, 2023
Severson, 28, was the 60th overall selection by New Jersey in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. Since making his NHL debut in 2014-15, he’s played in 647 regular season games, posting 58-205–263 over nine seasons, all with the Devils. In 12 playoff games, he’s recorded 1-2–3.
Before his NHL career began, the Melville, Saskatchewan, native played 260 regular season games for the WHL’s Kelowna Rockets, posting 36-131–167 in addition to 9-23–32 in 39 playoff games.
This acquisition, along with the recent trade for defenseman Ivan Provorov, is another sign that Kekalainen is keen on putting a team on the ice that is capable of making the playoffs this season.
