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It's a deal that rewards both sides.
Nutivaara, whose cap hit this season is $817,500, could've become a restricted free agent July 1. Now, he's got contract security and a nice pay raise, with the new deal costing the Blue Jackets $2.5 million in each of the first three seasons and $3.3 millon in the final year.
The more important number for the Blue Jackets, in terms of staying competitive, is $2.7 million, which is the average annual value of the new contract that will count against the NHL Salary Cap all four seasons.
Considering Nutivaara's age and what he's already proven in the NHL, that's a nice number when attempting to construct a full roster year-to-year.
"He is moving this way," Tortorella said, pointing skyward. "He's getting better and better. Who knows where he is, as we keep on going through the years here, but I've said it from the get-go: I want him in that lineup, because his first pass is one of the better ones we have in getting us out of the end zone. And he's done that."
He's done a lot more, too.
After playing through a hip injury last season that limited his mobility, Nutivaara had offseason surgery to correct the issues. He came to training camp intent on making the NHL roster, but didn't initially and started out with the Cleveland Monsters in the American Hockey League.
It didn't take long for Nutivaara to get back to the NHL and prove his worth, which he did after 20-year old Gabriel Carlsson sustained an upper-body injury in a game against the New York Rangers on Oct. 13 at Nationwide Arena - four games into the season.
Carlsson was placed on injured reserve, Nutivaara was recalled to take his roster spot and he impressed the coaching staff enough to stay put.
"I have good teammates, good coaches and everything, so they've helped me a lot just getting my confidence up and [showing] everybody what I've got," Nutivaara said. "I can still show more. I have more to [prove] and more stuff [to do] to belong. I'm not happy yet."
The Blue Jackets are pretty happy with him.
Nutivaara has played 59 games and set career-highs in goals (6), assists (16), points (22) and plus/minus rating (plus-10). He's logging about three minutes more per game (16:05) than last season, when he averaged 13:13 as a rookie and had seven points (two goals, five assists) in 66 games.
"I think he's just more comfortable with the puck," said defense partner Ryan Murray, who spent extended time last season and this season playing with Nutivaara. "I think he's more comfortable all over the ice, and his defensive game's been really good. When he's got the puck on his stick, he's a smart player. He makes things happen."
Nutivaara's skating has improved since undergoing surgery last April. He has more mobility, can skate the puck out of dangerous areas and is a skilled passer who draws rave reviews from Tortorella - especially for his aggressive approach getting the puck from the defensive zone up the ice to Columbus forwards.
His shot is dangerous, too, as evidenced by three goals in the past six games.
"There's not much maintenance to him," Tortorella said. "Last year, he was East-West. It drove me crazy. He made so many 'D-to-D' plays. You don't see that much in his game anymore. He's very coachable, he's a smart guy and he's young. He can skate, he can pass and he's beginning to find the net, which is very important for us."
In other words, 'Nuti' is just playing with his spine.
"I think the biggest bridge he's crossed is that he knows he belongs in the National Hockey League," Tortorella said. "He's not trying to make a National Hockey League team and try to survive it. He thinks he can be a difference-maker and that's a change in mind-set for 'Nuti,' and I think that's where his confidence has grown."
