Prospal staying put with Blue Jackets

Scratch another potential trade candidate off the list.

The Columbus Blue Jackets, expected to be aggressive sellers at the Feb. 27 trade deadline, signed 36-year-old forward Vinny Prospal to a one-year contract extension with a reported value of $2.5 million. Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch is reporting the deal includes a no-trade clause.

Prospal joined the Blue Jackets this summer after spending two seasons with the New York Rangers. Last season, Prospal was limited to 29 games as he recovered from knee surgery.

In 53 games with the Blue Jackets, Prospal has 9 goals and 24 assists.

"We are very excited to have Vinny signed for another year," said Blue Jackets GM Scott Howson said in a statement. "His leadership and play on the ice have certainly been positives for us this season."

Teams looking to add a veteran presence at minimal cost can't be happy about the extension. Prospal's original deal also carried a $2.5 million cap hit, and the veteran has 65 games of playoff experience under his belt.

At the time of coach Scott Arniel's firing, Howson said he expected his team to be sellers in the trade market this month. With Prospal locked up for another year, that leaves the Blue Jackets with five unrestricted free agents after this season -- forwards Kristian Huselius, Samuel Pahlsson and Derek MacKenzie along with defensemen Radek Martinek and Brett Lebda.

Huselius has played just two games this season due to pectoral surgery and a subsequent groin injury. Martinek has missed all but seven games due to a concussion.

Follow Dave Lozo on Twitter: @DaveLozo

Back to top