Laine accepts $7.5 million qualifying offer from Blue Jackets

Patrik Laine accepted a one-year qualifying offer for $7.5 million from the Columbus Blue Jackets on Wednesday.

"Last season was a tough one, but I've put it in the past and am looking forward to getting back to Columbus and helping this team move forward," Laine said. "I've had a good summer training and I'm excited about what's ahead for me personally and for our team."
The forward can again become a restricted free agent at the end of this season. He scored 21 points (10 goals, 11 assists) in 45 games after he was traded to Columbus by the Winnipeg Jets on Jan. 23.
"At just 23 years of age, Patrik has established himself as one of the premier goal-scorers in the National Hockey League," Columbus general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said. "There is no doubt that he had a difficult season in 2020-21, as a lot of players did, but we are confident that he will bounce back this season. He is a special talent, has a passion for the game, and will be an important part of our organization as we move forward."
Kekalainen said there's no rush to sign Laine to a longer contract.
"I think it was mutually agreed that we need to have a bounce back season," Kekalainen said. "He needs to have a bounce back season and get to the level where he was at before. After that, everything's open. We believe in him and he believes in himself.
"Let's get going here. Play some games and have some success, get him back to his level and then we can talk about the future."
Selected by Winnipeg with the No. 2 pick in the 2016 NHL Draft, Laine has scored 271 points (150 goals, 121 assists) in 351 regular-season games with the Blue Jackets and Jets and 16 points (eight goals, eight assists) in 24 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
Laine scored at least 28 goals in each of his first four NHL seasons, including a career-high 44 in 2017-18 to finish second behind Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals (49). Laine ranks 11th in goals since entering the NHL in 2016-17, when he was runner-up to Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs for the Calder Trophy in voting for NHL rookie of the year.
Columbus forwards Boone Jenner and Eric Robinson each signed a contract extension.
Jenner signed a four-year, $15 million extension ($3.75 million average annual value) that begins next season. He scored 17 points (eight goals, nine assists) in 41 games last season. A second-round pick (No. 37) in the 2011 NHL Draft by the Blue Jackets, the 28-year-old has scored 240 points (121 goals, 119 assists) in 530 regular-season games and 15 points (eight goals, seven assists) in 37 playoff games.
"I love Columbus," Jenner said. "I love everything about it. I wanted to stay here. I think as you go through your career, guys you played with and whatnot are going to go to other teams and things are going to happen. But talking with the guys that we've traded for and signed and everything like that, it makes it pretty exciting. Everyone's getting ready to go, and obviously we want to get back to where we are and compete in the playoffs."
Robinson signed a two-year, $3.2 million extension ($1.6 million AAV) that begins next season. The 26-year-old scored 18 points (eight goals, 10 assists) in 56 games last season and has scored 30 points (15 goals, 15 assists) in 120 regular-season games and one goal in 10 playoff games with Columbus.
"Eric has provided size, speed and competitiveness to our lineup since making his NHL debut in 2018," Kekalainen said. "He is a young player that has steadily improved each year. We believe he has just begun to realize his potential and as he continues to improve will have a significant impact on our hockey club moving forward."
Forward Sean Kuraly signed a four-year, $10 million contract ($2.5 million AAV) with the Blue Jackets. The 28 year-old scored nine points (four goals, five assists) in 47 regular-season games with the Boston Bruins last season, and did not have a point in 11 playoff games. A fifth-round pick (No. 133) by the San Jose Sharks in the 2011 NHL Draft, Kuraly has scored 68 points (24 goals, 44 assists) in 270 regular-season games and 19 points (nine goals, 10 assists) in 57 playoff games.
"Just super excited," said Kuraly, who was born in Dublin, Ohio. "This is what was circled on my places to be and places I wanted to be, and to be here now, it's awesome. It feels like it has come full circle, so I'm just excited to get going.
"There's a good group here and the future is bright. It's something I want to be a part of and I'm really excited that I am."
Forward Alexandre Texier signed a two-year, $3.05 million contract ($1.525 million AAV) with Columbus. The 21-year-old, who was a restricted free agent, scored 15 points (four goals, 11 assists) in 49 games with the Blue Jackets last season. Selected by Columbus in the second round (No. 45) of the 2017 NHL Draft, Texier has scored 29 points (11 goals, 18 assists) in 87 regular-season games and seven points (two goals, five assists) in 18 playoff games.
Brad Larsen was named Blue Jackets coach June 10. They announced May 9 that John Tortorella would not return after six seasons. Columbus (18-26-12) tied the Detroit Red Wings for last place in the eight-team Discover Central Division last season.
NHL.com staff writer Tom Gulitti and independent correspondent Craig Merz contributed to this report