Nutivaara signs four-year contract with Blue Jackets

Markus Nutivaara signed a four-year contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday.
The 23-year-old defenseman has 22 points (six goals, 16 assists) in 59 games for the Blue Jackets, who selected him in the seventh round (No. 189) of the 2015 NHL Draft. He had seven points (two goals, five assists) and was plus-7 in 66 games as a rookie in 2016-17, and had a goal and an assist in two Stanley Cup Playoff games.

"Markus is a smart, mobile defenseman who reads the ice very well and excels at moving the puck," general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said. "He has become an important part of our blue line over the past two seasons and we look forward to his continued growth and contributions to our team success moving forward."
Nutivaara signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the Blue Jackets in May 2016 after playing two seasons for Karpat in Liiga, Finland's top professional league.