Blue Jackets Re-Sign Grant Clitsome to A Two-Year Deal

Grant Clitsome Signs 2-Year Extension With The Columbus Blue Jackets

Press Release

COLUMBUS, OHIO – The Columbus Blue Jackets have signed defenseman Grant Clitsome to a two-year contract, Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Scott Howson announced June 10. As is club policy, terms were not disclosed. Clitsome, 26, registered four goals and 15 assists for 19 points, had 16 penalty minutes and a +2 plus/minus rating in 31 games with the Blue Jackets in 2010-11. He ranked second on the club in time on ice average (21:16) and was fourth among defensemen in goals, assists and points. He added 5-10-15 and 22 penalty minutes in 32 games with the Springfield Falcons, Columbus' American Hockey League affiliate. "We are pleased to have Grant signed for two more years," Howson said. "He is a great example of a player we drafted who has patiently developed at the collegiate and AHL levels and become a solid, dependable NHL defenseman." Columbus' 12th pick, 271st overall, in the 2004 Entry Draft, Clitsome made his NHL debut in 2009-10 and collected 1-2-3, six penalty minutes and was "even" in 11 games. He also registered 14-40-54 and 127 penalty minutes in 169 career AHL games with Syracuse and Springfield. The Gloucester, Ontario native played four seasons at Clarkson University (ECAC) from 2004-08. He tallied 16-57-73 and 122 penalty minutes in 150 career games. As a senior in 2007-08, he set a career-high with 5-17-22, added 28 penalty minutes and was +19 in 39 games to help the club win the ECAC regular season championship. He received Second Team RBK All-American, First Team ECAC All-Star and NCAA East Regional Team honors that year, in addition to being named to the ECAC Hockey All-Academic Team.

PattyB Thoughts:
This is very good news for the Blue Jackets and I believe he has the potential to be a very solid defenseman. He was a very late-bloomer, but this past season he was able to show the hockey world what he can really bring to the table. He put up 19 points in 31 NHL games, and was a plus-3. From my perspective, I am bummed he was re-upped as I saw him as the potential surprise of this year's free agents. I was hoping the Islanders would have been able to make him their underrated signing of the year that they always seem to find (Parenteau, Moulson, Streit).