The Columbus Blue Jackets have signed Derek Dorsett (#15 pictured above) to a three-year extension today. This contract will keep with the Blue Jackets through the 2014-2015 season. This deal was announced on the team website at 1:42PM today.
Dorsett had a career season this past year even though the team struggled mightily finishing the year at 29-46 and finishing in last place in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League. As a right winger, Dorsett had 12 goals and 8 assists while playing 77 games this season. This season he had career highs in goals, points, penalty minutes, games played, shots, and led the Blue Jackets in hits this season.
Dorsett is a very important piece for the Blue Jackets to hold on to in order to build a strong foundation on which to build upon. It was obvious through the season and especially late in the season, that players really responded to Dorsett and fed off of his energy on the ice. He will be someone that the Blue Jackets can build around and know that they will have a solid player leading the attack for the foreseeable future.
If the Blue Jackets can keep Rick Nash( a lot has been made of him possibly being traded during the offseason) and build around him, Derek Dorsett and RJ Umberger then the future for the Blue Jackets could be very bright. With these two being the foundation, I think the Blue Jackets could be back to the playoff form they were in back in 2008-2009 in the next 3-4 years. There a lot of postitions that the front office have to address before this team makes a run at the playoffs again but I think that this is a very good start at building a very solid team.
The Sports Current 