Damon Severson was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets by the New Jersey Devils on Friday after signing an eight-year, $50 million contract with New Jersey. It has an average annual value of $6.25 million and runs through the 2030-31 season.
Severson, who could have become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, would not have been eligible to sign a contract longer than seven years if he had become a UFA.
New Jersey received a third-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft.
The 28-year-old defenseman had 33 points (seven goals, 26 assists) in 82 games for the Devils this season and three points (one goal, two assists) in 12 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
He was the longest-tenured player on the Devils (nine seasons).
[RELATED: 2022-23 NHL Trade Tracker]
“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,” Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said. “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.”
Selected by New Jersey in the second round (No. 60) of the 2012 NHL Draft, Severson has 263 points (58 goals, 205 assists) in 647 regular-season games. He’s played 16 NHL postseason games.
The trade comes 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 which includes Zach Werenski, Erik Gudbranson, Andrew Peeke and Adam Boqvist, who are each signed for at least the next two seasons.
The Blue Jackets went 25-48-9 this season, finishing last in the Eastern Conference and 31st in the NHL, ahead of only the Anaheim Ducks. Brad Larsen was fired as coach April 15 and no replacement has been named.
The Devils (52-22-8) finished second in the Metropolitan Division this season, defeating the New York Rangers in seven games in the Eastern Conference First Round to win a playoff series for the first time since 2012; they lost to the Carolina Hurricanes in the second round.
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