Another slightly surprising contract extension for Blue Jackets fans this pre-season:

The Columbus Blue Jackets have signed right wing Derek Dorsett to a two-year contract extension which begins in 2010-11 and continues through the 2011-12 season, club General Manager Scott Howson announced today. 

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Dorsett had 4 goals, 1 assist and 150 penalty minutes last season with the Blue Jackets. Dorsett continued the tradition of the Blue Jackets having the ultimate rookie pest, following Jared Boll's lead from the previous year. 

If this doesn't get you pumped for the upcoming season, I don't know what will:

The contract terms, according to Puck-rakers:

The new contract is a one-way deal. Dorsett will make $550,000 in the 2010-11 season and $575,000 in 2011-12 season after which he will be a restricted free agent.

The question this raises in my mind, what does this mean for Jared Boll? Boll got off to a bad start last year, breaking his hand playing shinny over the summer and being extremely limited during training camp. Then, during the first game of the regular season, getting hurt in an extended fight with Dallas' Krys Barch. 

Unfortunately for Boll, that doesn't change the fact that Dorsett burst onto the scene much like he had the year before, and now has a nice new contract extension from the Blue Jackets, ensuring he'll be a part of this club for at least the next three years.

Hitch would like to get Dorsett and Boll together on the fourth line, but unless Dorsett can convert to center, is that really plausible? There's clearly a logjam of forwards, particularly wingers, and between Fredrik Modin, Raffi Torres, and Jason Chimera, who exactly would you sit to make room for both Dorsett and Boll?

This isn't meant as a slight against Boll, he's one of the best young agitators in the league and he's loved in Columbus. But in terms of making your team better, is he on his way out? Boll is certainly still attractive for what he brings to the table and has a lot of potential. But shaving his $743,333 off the budget could help tremendously for a team that appears to already have reached its internal cap number.

Saving that bit of money could help sign a player like Marc Andre Bergeron rather than being limited to offering just a tryout contract. Or maybe this could pave the way for Anton Babchuk to Columbus rumors to finally turn into something. 

What do you think? Is this signaling the end of Jared Boll in Columbus?