"Jake Bean is a skilled defenseman who is an excellent skater, sees the ice very well and makes good decisions with the puck," said Kekalainen. "He's a really smart player that can run a power play, is responsible defensively and we think is going to be an important part of our blueline. We're excited to welcome him to the Blue Jackets family."
Bean, 23, has registered 1-11-12 with 12 penalty minutes in 44 career NHL games, including 1-11-12 and 10 penalty minutes while averaging 14:32 of ice time in 42 games as a rookie in 2020-21. He finished second among NHL rookie blueliners in assists (tied) and power play points (five) and third-T in points last season. The defenseman added 1-0-1 in 11 contests during the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs. He made his NHL debut with the Hurricanes during the 2018-19 campaign, skating in two contests.
The Calgary, Alberta native was selected by Carolina with the 13th pick of the first round at the 2016 NHL Draft and collected 23-69-92 in 129 career American Hockey League contests with the Charlotte Checkers from 2018-20. He captured the Eddie Shore Award as the AHL's Best Defenseman and was named to the First All-Star Team in 2019-20 after leading league defensemen in scoring with 10-38-48 in 59 games. He helped Charlotte capture the Calder Cup and was named to the league's All-Rookie Team after tallying 13-31-44 in 70 regular season contests and 1-4-5 in 15 playoff games in 2018-19.
The 6-1, 186-pound blueliner racked up 49-147-196 in 219 career games for the Calgary Hitmen and Tri-City Americans in the Western Hockey League from 2014-18. He led WHL blueliners in goals in 2015-16 with 24-40-64 in 68 appearances with the Hitmen.
Bean has represented Canada at several international tournaments. He helped the country win medals at the 2017 (silver) and 2018 (gold) IIHF World Junior Championships.
FULL JAKE BEAN STATS
