Oliver Bjorkstrand was traded to the Seattle Kraken by the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday for a third- and fourth-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft.
The 27-year-old forward set NHL career highs with 28 goals, 29 assists and 57 points in 80 games for the Blue Jackets last season. He has four seasons remaining on a five-year, $27 million contract ($5.4 million average annual value) he signed with Columbus on Jan. 6, 2021.
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“It was a difficult decision to trade Oliver, who has given so much to our organization over the past seven years,” Columbus general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said. “However, a move like this needed to be made in order for us to be (NHL) salary cap compliant after the Johnny Gaudreau and Patrik Laine signings. We are thankful for Oliver’s many contributions to our club, on and off the ice, and wish he and his wife, Jill, all the best in Seattle.”
The Blue Jackets signed Gaudreau, a forward, to a seven-year, $68.25 million contract ($9.75 AAV) as an unrestricted free agent July 13. They signed Laine, a forward who was a restricted free agent, to a four-year, $34.8 million contract ($8.7 million AAV) earlier Friday.
Selected by Columbus in the third round (No. 89) of the 2013 NHL Draft, Bjorkstrand has 234 points (111 goals, 123 assists) in 382 regular-season games over seven NHL seasons. He has 12 points (six goals, six assists) in 31 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
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