The best defenseman available for unrestricted free agency did not make it to market, as James Wisniewski signed a 6-year deal to stay with his suitors from Columbus. The Blue Jackets acquired his rights from the Canadiens only a couple of days before the market opened and they were able to nail down a deal with the top dog on the blueline, giving him $33 million in the process.
Wisniewski will bring some much-needed offense to a Blue Jackets blueline, a blueline that has struggled to score some goals in recent memory. Wisniewski scored 10 goals and 41 assists in 75 games with the Islanders and the Canadiens in 2011.
Wisniewski was the 5th best defender in scoring during the year, which was likely going to make him into a solid candidate for big money, but the Blue Jackets stepped up and gave him about what he was going to make on the open market.
With the deal done, the Blue Jackets take another solid step up the projected cap hit ladder, now having 16 players (11 forwards, four defensemen and a goalie) and a buyout signed on for $48.4 million.
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