Columbus Blue Jackets (Official Thread)

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Big shootout win against the Canucks tonight!

 

[ScriptOhio]

Blue Jackets sign defenseman Guillaume Richard to entry level contract | Columbus Blue Jackets

The 2021 fourth-round draft pick signed a two-year contract beginning with the 2025-26 season after four years at Providence College

www.nhl.com

Blue Jackets sign defenseman Guillaume Richard to entry level contract​

The 2021 fourth-round draft pick signed a two-year contract beginning with the 2025-26 season after four years at Providence College

The 2021 fourth-round draft pick signed a two-year contract beginning with the 2025-26 season after four years at Providence College

The Columbus Blue Jackets have signed Guillaume Richard to a two-year, entry level contract beginning with the 2025-26 season, club President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Don Waddell announced today. The defenseman was selected by Columbus in the fourth round, 101st overall, at the 2021 NHL Draft.

Richard, 22, recorded nine goals and 45 assists for 54 points with 73 penalty minutes, 155 blocked shots, 245 shots on goal and a cumulative +24 plus/minus rating in 139 contests over four seasons at Providence College (Hockey East) from 2021-25. Serving as an alternate captain during his senior campaign in 2024-25, he led the Friars in blocked shots and was tied for the club lead among blueliners in points with 2-12-14, 14 PIM, 41 blocked shots, 61 shots on goal and a +7 plus/minus rating in 37 games.

The 6-1, 176-pound defenseman set college career highs as a junior in 2023-24, finishing with 3-15-18, 27 PIM, 40 blocked shots and 67 shots on goal in 35 appearances. He collected 1-7-8 and 56 shots on goal in 31 games as a sophomore in 2022-23. He was named the team’s Most Valuable Freshman (Herman Schneider, O.P. Award) after posting 3-11-14, 26 PIM and 61 shots on goal in 36 contests in 2021-22.

Prior to his collegiate career, the native of Quebec City, Quebec registered 2-14-16 and 14 PIM in 51 appearances with the Tri-City Storm in the USHL from 2019-21. He also represented Canada at the 2021 IIHF U18 World Championships.

Blue Jackets sign Guillaume Richard to entry-level contract

The Blue Jackets signed defenseman Guillaume Richard to a two-year, entry-level contract beginning with the 2025-26 season, the team announced.

www.yardbarker.com

He doesn’t crack the top 15 in a loaded Columbus prospect pool (Scott Wheeler of The Athletic), but the organization evidently likes his tools enough and hopes he can be a bottom-pairing piece someday. That likely won’t be as soon as next season, but he should be in contention for a heavy workload on the farm with AHL Cleveland. The 6’2″ lefty will have a couple of years to prove he’s on the right track developmentally before potentially reaching restricted free agency in 2027.

 

[NFBuck]

They have a good nucleus of young skaters, but MAN do they need goaltending.