Dean Kukan has signed a new contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets.

This one confuses me.

I was expecting a one year deal because of the plethora of CBJ defensemen. This could be 1.65M of healthy scratch time for some games, not because Kukan deserves to be scratched, but because of the amount of guys competing for a spot.

Somebody needs to be moved off this blue line. I thought Kukan was the trade bait. Alright deal in that they have more security beyond Murray and Savard's expiration. This deal is good in that they have confidence in Kukan's ability to improve: there's a 700k salary difference from year 1 to 2, so they are looking for improvement. A couple grand more than I was expecting, but certainly not mindbogglingly much.

Expansion Draft bait?

possibly. I'd argue that right now seattle is looking at the goal crease here more than the guys in front of them. things could change in a year though

Goaltending protection not an issue for CBJ. Elvis will be exempt and they can protect Korpi. The probably trade one or the other before the expansion draft anyways

oh right i forgot elvis was exempt.

Amazing Signing.

Solid move, bought up a UFA year.
No reason not to like this one.
It's not about next year but the year after that. Savard and Murray will both be gone.
My guess is Savard and Murray might be on the trade block next year. The will get something out of those expiring contracts. They got the youth to do that pieces to do that.
It makes a lot of sense for a team that could use greater impact in the forward group like a really solid 3C to play behind PLD and Foudy next year.

(-) player, doesn't put up points. Averages 15 minutes a night.. I think they could get the same production from a guy making close to league minimum. Bad signing IMO

you were saying that kukan may be a 1.65 mil scratch... look at jordan weal

$1.65 Million for a player I've never heard of. Ouch.

what is Columbus thinking, signing a guy who a random guy on the internet hasn't heard about????