NHL roundup: Bobrovsky gets $11.25 million extension with Columbus
Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky signed a two-year contract extension with the Columbus Blue Jackets for what a source told ESPN.com on Monday is worth $11.25 million.
In doing so, he Blue Jackets locked up the Vezina Award winner before he could become a restricted free agent.
"I'm very happy to be a Columbus Blue Jacket," Bobrovsky said in a statement. "My wife and I really like Columbus and the fans have been very nice to us and supportive of our team.
"I'm looking forward to the season and working with my teammates to help us to our goal of winning a Stanley Cup."
General manager Jarmo Kekalainen termed re-signing the 24-year-old Russian as his top objective, but the two sides made little headway until right before the start of the NHL draft on Sunday.
Bobrovsky, who was acquired from Philadelphia for draft picks last summer, had a 21-11-6 record with a 2.00 goals-against average, a .932 save percentage and four shutouts.
---The New Jersey Devils re-signed forward Dainius Zubrus to a three-year extension worth $3.1 million per year, according to the Bergen County (N.J.) Record.
The team has not made an announcement.
Zubrus, 35, had just two goals and seven assists in only 22 games last season. However, he did have 17 goals and 27 assists in 2011-12 and added 10 points in the playoffs when the Devils reached the Stanley Cup finals.
---Goalie Tim Thomas, who sat out the 2012-2013 season, is expected to announce plans to return to the NHL, TSN reported.
Nothing is official at this point, but TSN's Pierre LeBrun noted a Tweet from Thomas agent, Bill Zito, which stated, "Tim Thomas has asked me to explore possible options for next season. We'll have no further comment at this time. Thanks."
Thomas is 39 years old, but he has won two Vezina Trophies. He was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the MVP of the 2011 playoffs when his Boston Bruins won the Stanley Cup.
