You would be forgiven if you missed Jake Christiansen’s arrival with the Blue Jackets. He was signed to an ELC in early March 2020, and then the entire world shut down for awhile. He made his debut with Columbus in early 2022 but was primarily a Cleveland Monster for the last three seasons.
This fall, however, he earned a spot on the NHL roster out of training camp and became a fixture in the lineup. Not only did he appear in 68 games for the Blue Jackets, but he also earned a two-year contract extension in January.
Is he a star? Of course not. But he has proven that he can be a useful third pair defenseman, and can succeed with various partners.
2024-25 Stats
Games: 68
Goals: 1
Assists: 7
Points: 8
Plus/Minus: +6
PIM: 11
5v5 Corsi%: 44.4
5v5 Fenwick%: 45.3
5v5 Offensive Zone Start %: 46.4
Contract
Christiansen’s contract extension keeps him with the Blue Jackets through 2027, but with a relatively low cap hit of $975,000 per season. Perfectly in line with a third pair defenseman.
High Point
Christiansen’s sole multi-point game was a 2 assist effort against Buffalo in October for a 6-4 Blue Jackets victory.
Low Point
Injuries got in the way late in the season, as Christiansen missed time in mid-March and again in mid-April.
Report Card
B
Christiansen isn’t a noticeable player, but that’s exactly what you want out of a depth defenseman. It was great to see him earn his spot on the roster coming out of preseason, and he proved to be a solid, reliable piece in the lineup.