Huselius inks 4-year deal with Jackets worth $4.75M per year

Updated: July 2, 2008, 10:24 PM ET

Comment Email Print Share

By Scott Burnside
ESPN.com
Archive

The Columbus Blue Jackets moved immediately to fill some of the offensive void created by Nikolai Zherdev's departure by signing Calgary sniper Kristian Huselius to a four-year deal worth $4.75 million a year.

Follow the wheelings and dealings throughout the off-season via ESPN.com's Free Agent Tracker.

Huselius, 29, had 59 goals for the Calgary Flames over the past two seasons. He will likely play on the opposite wing with Rick Nash.

The New York Rangers acquired Zherdev and center Dan Fritsche from Columbus in exchange for defensemen Christian Backman and Fedor Tyutin.

The Blue Jackets had earlier acquired center R.J. Umberger at the draft and Raffi Torres from Edmonton before free agency began.

Umberger could start the season between Huselius and Nash as the team's No. 1 center.

Scott Burnside is the NHL writer for ESPN.com.

ESPN NHL