The Columbus Blue Jackets have signed defenseman Gavin Bayreuther to a one-year, two-way National Hockey League/American Hockey League contract for the 2020-21 season, club General Manager and Alternate Governor Jarmo Kekalainen announced today.
Bayreuther, 26, played in his lone NHL season with the Dallas Stars in 2018-19, collecting two goals and three assists for five points with 10 penalty minutes and a cumulative +2 plus/minus rating in 19 games. He made his NHL debut on Nov. 16, 2018 vs. Boston and tallied his first career goal on November 23 vs. Ottawa (Craig Anderson).
A native of Canaan, New Hampshire, Bayreuther (pronounced BAY-Roo-Thuhr) has recorded 22-69-91 and 80 penalty minutes in 198 career AHL contests with the Texas Stars since making his professional debut at the end of the 2016-17 campaign. In 2019-20, he finished third on Texas in assists and led club defensemen in goals and points (tied) and ranked second in assists with 6-23-29 and 28 penalty minutes in 59 appearances. He set career highs with 7-25-32 in 71 appearances during his first full professional season in 2017-18.
The 6-1, 195-pound blueliner was signed by the Stars to an entry level contract on Mar. 15, 2017. Prior to turning pro, he racked up 35-76-111 with 92 penalty minutes and was +24 in 142 career NCAA games at St. Lawrence University from 2013-17. He was named to the NCAA Second All-American Team during the 2015-16 and 2016-17 campaigns. He recorded 29 or more points in three of his seasons, including a career high 9-27-36 in 38 outings as a freshman in 2013-14, garnering ECAC Rookie of the Year accolades.
FULL BAYREUTHER STATS
