Blue Jackets re-sign Mikael Pyyhtia to two-year contract

A young scoring threat is extending his time in Ohio.

According to PuckPedia, the Columbus Blue Jackets have re-signed forward Mikael Pyyhtia to a two-year contract. The deal carries an AAV of $875,000 through the 2027-28 season. The first year is a two-way contract, with a minor-league salary of $200,000, with $250,000 guaranteed. The second year is a one-way deal.

It’s a little pay bump for Pyythia, who is coming off a one-year, two-way contract, where he had a minimum wage cap hit of $775,000, an American Hockey League cap hit of $100,000, with $140,000 guaranteed to the Finnish center.

Pyyhtia is coming off the best season of his professional career in North America. While he appeared in just five games with the Blue Jackets, scoring one goal, he had an exceptional season with the Cleveland Monsters, Columbus’ primary affiliate. In 59 games, the 24-year-old set career highs in goals (21), assists (28) and points (49), helping the Monsters finish third in the North Division. He added another three goals and five points in nine Calder Cup Playoff games, as Cleveland made it to the division finals before being eliminated by the eventual champion Toronto Marlies.

Pyythia’s promising season has been a long time coming. He was taken by Columbus in the fourth round, 114th overall, of the 2020 NHL Draft. While he spent considerable time with the Blue Jackets in the 2024-25 campaign, appearing in 43 games, he showed the tools that could make him a solid secondary offensive weapon at the next level.

In 154 regular-season games in the AHL, Pyyhtia has posted 34 goals and 62 assists for 96 points, with 11 points in 28 postseason games. He has played 71 contests in the NHL, scored five goals and six assists for 11 points.

Pyyhtia also has some international experience, winning bronze with Finland at the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship and participating in the 2025 IIHF Men’s World Championship.