Blue Jackets sign Evan Gardner to entry-level contract

Columbus Blue Jackets President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Don Waddell announced Tuesday that the club has signed goaltender Evan Gardner to a three-year, entry-level contract.

Gardner was selected by the Blue Jackets No. 60 overall in the 2024 NHL Draft.

The Fort St. John, British Columbia native has appeared in 41 games this season with the Saskatoon Blades of the Western Hockey League (WHL) where he has posted a 22-12-4 record with a 2.83 goals-against average, .911 save percentage and three shutouts. Gardner was named the WHL’s Goaltender of the Month for November after finishing with a 7-3-0 record, 2.64 GAA and .912 SV% in 11 contests.

In 71 career games with the Blades, Gardner has registered a record of 43-17-6 with a 2.45 GAA, .917 SV% and seven shutouts. The 19-year-old led the league in goals-against average and save percentage and ranked second in shutouts as a rookie in 2023-24, finishing with a 21-5-2 record.

Gardner was listed as a prospect thriving in the WHL this season according to Daily Faceoff prospect analyst Seven Ellis. “Many believed Gardner deserved a shot at making Canada’s World Junior team, and it’s hard to disagree,” Ellis said. “He leads all drafted prospects in wins this season, and while his stats have quieted down a bit, he more often than not has to do some heavy lifting for a mid-pack Eastern Conference Blades team. Gardner was taken 60th overall by the Blue Jackets in 2024 because of his patience and mobility, and while there’s nothing about his game that he was better at than any other goalie taken, he was pretty solid across the board. The Blue Jackets banked heavily on his 30-game sample size this year, and it’s already paying off, as he’s one of the top goalie prospects in the CHL for how well he plays when Saskatoon needs him the most.”