NHL News: Sabres lose Zegmus Girgensons, Blue Jackets lock up Oliver Bjorkstrand, and Tuukka Rask talks future
Anthony Scultore
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The injuries keep coming around the league. Zegmus Girgensons is likely to miss the entire season due to a hamstring injury. The surgery to repair the damage will put him out six months.
NHL News: Columbus gives Oliver Bjorkstrand a new deal
“You work hard and you try to improve your game all the time, and there’s a lot of times where you might be tired but you keep grinding. I’m just very happy I had the opportunity to sign that kind of contact and set up my future,” Bjorkstrand said after signing his new deal. “I’m very, very pumped about it and just looking forward to this season and having a good year with the team.”
The 25 year-old scored 21 goals and 36 points in 49 contests last season for the Jackets. His deal is for 5 years with an AAV of $5.4 million. “Oliver is a gifted player that has shown steady improvement throughout career to this point and we couldn’t be happier that he will be a Blue Jacket for a very long time,” GM Jarmo Kekalainen remarked.
Bjorkstrand is expected to play on the top line this season.
Tuukka Rask isn’t going anywhere?
In this morning’s edition of NHL Rumors, Pierre Lebrun revealed the Bruins were looking at trading Tuukka Rask this offseason. Apparently, Rask doesn’t share that idea. When asked about his future his answer was short.
“I have no intention of playing anywhere else but the Bruins.”
Let’s see about that come trade deadline time.