Kuraly signing highlights start of free agency for Blue Jackets

The Blue Jackets didn't have to go out on a limb to convince their two big Wednesday signings that Columbus is the place for them to be.
For the team's biggest addition on the free agent market, former Boston center and Dublin native Sean Kuraly, the capital city is the home he's always wanted to return to. For the team's longest-tenured player, Boone Jenner, Columbus has become where he wanted to be to the point he signed a four-year extension on the first day it could be offered.

And as the Blue Jackets put a (potential) bow on a busy week that recast the squad in an effort to return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs and even bring the big trophy home, Kuraly and Jenner are more than excited to lead the charge.

"The biggest part was a belief in where it is going, I think," Kuraly said of signing to be part of the new-look Jackets. "That was No. 1, I think. The familiarity is a big piece of it. I had a few teammates in Boston that played at home, and I think they used it as an advantage and played really good hockey. At the end of the day, that's what you're here for, to play the best hockey you can and I wanted to go somewhere where I had the best chance to do that, be a piece on a team I personally and my agent thought were headed in the right direction.
"Sometimes you have to have a little foresight, and I've seen what they've done. The same group of management and some of the players have done it here before … so I just think it's a belief in where it's going."

Kuraly's addition was the team's only move Wednesday to bring in a player from another team on the annual free agent frenzy day, but Columbus in all signed six other players who spent 2021 with the Blue Jackets. Like Jenner, forwards Eric Robinson and Alexandre Texier inked multiyear extensions, while winger Patrik Laine signed his qualifying offer to play for Columbus next season.
In addition, defenseman Gavin Bayreuther -- who was Seattle's pick in the expansion draft last week from the Blue Jackets -- was snapped back up on a two-year deal after hitting free agency, while forward Tyler Sikura signed a one-year, two-way deal after finishing second on AHL Cleveland in scoring last season.
The moves added to what have been a busy few days surrounding the Blue Jackets. During the weekend's NHL draft, the Blue Jackets traded veterans Seth Jones and Cam Atkinson for a bevy of picks and players, with forward Jakub Voracek and defensemen Adam Boqvist and Jake Bean coming in return to immediately bolster the squad.
The trades immediately make the Jackets younger and restock both NHL and prospect depth, especially when first-round picks Kent Johnson, Cole Sillinger and Corson Ceulemans are added in. But the NHL changes add size and special teams skill to the equation, with the 6-2, 213-pound Kuraly boasting speed, penalty-killing experience and a 22-46-68 line in 270 NHL games, largely while serving on an energy line with the Bruins.

While happy with the addition of Kuraly, Kekalainen said more moves that would benefit the 2021-22 team could be on the way as well.
"We're not finished yet," Kekalainen siad. "We have lots of time before the season starts, so we are always looking to make the team stronger. I think we did some good things today with bringing Sean Kuraly into the mix. He's a great two-way center that is a proven winner and has been on a very good team for the past few years and been a big part of it.
"Being a Columbus boy, that's a bonus, but we believe he's going to be a strong two-way presence in our lineup, be a guy who can take faceoffs, kill penalties and play the heavy matchups as well."
For Jenner, meanwhile, he'll simply keep moving his way up the Blue Jackets career marks with the third contract he's signed with the Blue Jackets . Already seventh in games played (530), fourth in goals (121) and sixth in points (240), Jenner will likely pass Rick Nash's all-time record for games in a CBJ sweater as part of this new deal that will keep him in the jersey through the 2025-26 season.
It's a big commitment from each side, with the Blue Jackets keeping around someone who could very well wear the captain's "C" one day, while Jenner hopes to be one of the key pieces of the CBJ's plan to reload.

"I love Columbus," Jenner said. "I love everything about it. I wanted to stay here. I think as you go through your career, guys you've played with and whatnot are going to go to other teams and things like that are going to happen, but talking with the guys that we have traded for and signed and everything like that, it makes it pretty exciting. Everyone is getting ready to go.
"Obviously, we want to get back to where we are and compete in the playoffs. I love Columbus, everything about it and am just thrilled to be back with the group here."