Blue Jackets sign Guillaume Richard to entry-level contract

The Columbus Blue Jackets announced Monday that the club has signed defenseman Guillaume Richard to a two-year, entry-level contract to begin in the upcoming season.

Originally chosen by the Blue Jackets in the fourth round of the 2021 NHL Draft, Richard has spent the past four seasons with the NCAA’s Providence Friars. Through 37 appearances this season, the 6-foot-2 blue-liner collected two goals and 12 assists for 14 points coupled with 14 penalty minutes and a plus-seven rating. In all, through his four seasons with the Friars, Richard totaled nine goals and 45 assists for 54 points through 139 career contests.

Prior to committing to Providence, Richard spent part of two seasons with the USHL’s Tri-City Storm underscored by the 2020-21 campaign in which he registered two goals and 14 assists for 16 points in 46 games. In all, through two seasons with the Storm, Richard combined for 16 points in 51 total appearances.

The 22-year-old Quebec City native has also seen success in international competition highlighted by a six-game showing with Canada at the 2021 IIHF Under-18 World Championship in which he notched six penalty minutes coupled with a plus-14 rating en route to a gold medal victory. Additionally, Richard represented Canada White at the 2019 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge where he put up two goals and four assists for six points in six games.

Richard is the fifth player to sign an entry-level contract with the Blue Jackets in March, following Saskatoon Blades goaltender Evan Gardner, Northeastern Huskies forward Jack Williams, Tri-City Americans defenseman Charlie Elick, and North Dakota Fighting Hawks defenseman Caleb MacDonald.

On the season, the Blue Jackets sit 33-30-9 and two points back of the Montreal Canadiens for the second wildcard seed in the Eastern Conference. The Blue Jackets last qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2010.