Blue Jackets re-sign Erik Gudbranson to one-year contract

A veteran presence on the back end is staying in Ohio’s capital for another year.

On Thursday, Columbus Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell told members of the media that the team is set to announce the re-signing of defenseman Erik Gudbranson. The deal is reportedly a one-year contract, with a cap hit of $1.75 million.

Gudbranson had just come to the end of his four-year contract, which he signed with the Blue Jackets as an unrestricted free agent. That deal had an AAV of $4 million.

It has been a tough couple of years for the Ottawa native. Injuries have led to him seeing more time in the press box than in the lineup. After appearing in just 16 games during the 2024-25 season, he played a measly 37 games this past year, but did score a goal for the first time in two seasons. He finished the campaign with three points, a plus/minus of +6, while averaging 17:46 of ice time per game. While he battled injuries, the Blue Jackets attempted to rally in the second half of the season, narrowly missing out on the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

It’ll be interesting to see where Gudbranson will fit in the lineup next season. With most of the team’s D-corps returning, expect to see the 34-year-old battling to be on the third pair.

In his first four seasons in Columbus, Gudbranson has appeared in 201 games, scoring eight goals and 38 assists for 46 points. In 842 regular-season NHL contests across 15 seasons, he has notched 35 goals and 105 assists for 140 points, with two points in 31 postseason contests.