Columbus Blue Jackets sign Marcus Bjork to one-year deal

The Columbus Blue Jackets have signed defenseman Marcus Bjork to a one-year, two-way deal worth $775,000.

Bjork was set to become a restricted free agent after completing his $925,000 deal this year – his first NHL contract.

The Blue Jackets signed the undrafted free agent to his first NHL deal last year. Bjork had 11 points in 33 games with Columbus and 15 points in 44 games with the AHL’s Cleveland Monsters.

Prior to coming to North America, Bjork spent four years in the SHL, recording a career-high 16 points in 51 games with Brynas in 2020-21.

The Allsvenskan’s defenseman of the year in 2017-18, Bjork has shown flashes of offensive ability throughout his short NHL career. He’s not afraid to throw the body and land some big hits thanks to his 6-foot-4, 211-pound frame.

The Blue Jackets also extended a qualifying offer to RFA defenseman Tim Berni. Berni played in 59 games for Columbus this past year, recording three points in a depth shutdown role.

The Blue Jackets finished the 2022–23 regular season with the worst record (25–48–9) in the Eastern Conference. Columbus enters 2023–24 having missed the playoffs in three consecutive seasons, but will be armed with top prospect Adam Fantilli and new offseason additions Ivan Provorov and Damon Severson.