On Friday, the Columbus Blue Jackets made a big move in the NHL free agency market by trading for Damon Severson from the New Jersey Devils. Severson, a talented defenseman, had just signed a lucrative eight-year, $50 million contract with the Devils before being traded. The deal with Columbus has an average annual value of $6.25 million and runs through the 2030-31 season.
As a UFA, Severson would not have been able to sign a contract longer than seven years, which made this a key move for the Blue Jackets. New Jersey received a third-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft as part of the deal.
Severson had an impressive season in 2021-2022, scoring 33 points (seven goals, 26 assists) in 82 games for the Devils. He also had three points (one goal, two assists) in 12 Stanley Cup Playoff games. At 28 years old, Severson was the longest-tenured player on the Devils, having played nine seasons with the team.
“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,” said Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen. “Damon is a versatile defenseman who has great vision, moves the puck extremely well, has good size (6-foot-2, 205 pounds) and can play heavy minutes at both ends of the ice.”
Severson was drafted by the Devils in the second round (No. 60) of the 2012 NHL Draft and has since scored 263 points (58 goals, 205 assists) in 647 regular-season games. He’s also played 16 NHL postseason games.
The trade for Severson comes just three days after the Blue Jackets acquired defenseman Ivan Provorov in a three-team deal involving the Philadelphia Flyers and Los Angeles Kings. Severson and Provorov join a Blue Jackets defense that already includes Zach Werenski, Erik Gudbranson, Andrew Peeke, and Adam Boqvist, all of whom are signed for at least the next two years.
The Blue Jackets had a disappointing season in 2021-2022, going 25-48-9 and finishing last in the Eastern Conference and 31st in the NHL. The team fired coach Brad Larsen in April and has yet to name a replacement.
In contrast, the Devils had a successful season, finishing second in the Metropolitan Division with a record of 52-22-8. They defeated the New York Rangers in seven games in the Eastern Conference First Round to win a playoff series for the first time since 2012, then lost to the Carolina Hurricanes in the second round.
The trade for Severson is expected to have a big impact on the Blue Jackets’ defense, and could help the team make significant strides in the upcoming season. Time will tell if this move pays off in the long run, but for now, it seems like a smart move for Columbus.
