-The Columbus Blue Jackets locked up a promising young defenseman on Saturday, re-signing Kris Russell to a three-year contract extension. 

Russell's new contract, which starts in 2010-11, is worth $3.9 million, or $1.3 million per season against the Jackets' salary cap. 

The 22-year-old defenseman is smallish by NHL standards (5-10, 180 lbs) but he has considerable upside as a puck-moving defenseman and made considerable strides last season with 21 points in 66 games. This season he has two points in five games. 

Should the mobile Russell continue his development this signing by the Jackets will prove to be a very affordable addition to their future. 

- The Chicago Blackhawks added forward depth on Saturday by claiming sophomore center Andrew Ebbett off waivers

- Dallas Stars new general manager Joe Nieuwendyk has been wasting little time in re-signing his key players to long-term contract extensions. 

Days after re-upping defenseman Stephane Robidas to a long-term deal Niewendyk re-signed winger Loui Erikssen to a four-year contract worth $4.25 million per season. 

Niewendyk is following the trend of his peers in handing out big bucks for potential. The 24-year-old Eriksson had a breakout performance in 2008-09 with 36 goals and 63 points and was one of the few bright spots in an otherwise forgettable season for the Stars. 

If the young Swede continues on that offensive pace he'll be well worth that new salary, which starts in 2010-11. 

- Scratch yet another defenseman off next summer's list of unrestricted free agents,

The Columbus Blue Jackets added some depth to their defense corps today which they hope might blossom into a valuable addition. 

On Monday the Jackets acquired defenseman Anton Stralman from the Calgary Flames in exchange for a third round pick in 2010. 

Stralman, 23, was acquired from the Toronto Maple Leafs this past summer in a multi-player deal which shipped veteran forward Wayne Primeau to the Leafs. 

The Flames wanted to move Stralman for a return rather than risk losing him for nothing via waivers. 

He has some promise as a puck-moving defenseman and is a right-handed shot, which the Jackets were lacking last season from the point, especially on the power-play. 

They'll hope Stralman can blossom into a decent two-way blueliner. 

This trade also

-The Columbus Blue Jackets have ensured forward Antoine Vermette's tenure with their club will last longer than just this season. 

Acquired by the Blue Jackets from the Ottawa Senators during last March's NHL trade deadline, and eligible for unrestricted free agency next summer, Vermette today signed a five-year, $18.75 million contract extension with the Jackets, which takes effect in 2010-11. 

The new deal will pay Vermette, a versatile two-way forward who can play both center and left wing, $3.75 million per season. 

Vermette was solid in his short time with the Blue Jackets late last season posting 13 points in 17 games although he went scoreless in the Jackets four-game opening round elimination against the Detroit Red Wings. 

Still, Vermette was instantly a

The Columbus Blue Jackets took a major step on Friday to maintain the stability of their franchise and retain a key building block in their recent development by re-signing star winger Rick Nash to a multi-year contract extension.

Nash, who was eligible next summer to become an unrestricted free agent, will be on an eight-year, $62.4 million contract starting in 2010-11, which will be a $7.8 million hit per season to the Jackets cap. 

It's the right move for the Jackets, a team which over the past two seasons have finally built themselves into a legitimate playoff contender. Nash is the face of the franchise and the star to build around in the coming years. 

Some might question paying him that much but if the Jackets didn't he would've easily received that much money - perhaps

The Columbus Blue Jackets found themselves an experienced backup goalie for young star netminder Steve Mason, signing former Pittsburgh Penguin Mathieu Garon to a two year deal worth $1.2 million per season.

Garon, 31, was a former starting goaltender with the LA Kings and Edmonton Oilers but a rough performance earlier last season with the Oilers saw him relegated to backup status and then dealt to the Penguins by mid-season where he was in a backup role for Marc-Andre Fleury.

In 19 games last season split between the Oilers and Penguins Garon posted an 8-9-0 record with a 3.12 goals-against average and an .894 save percentage. He was backup for Fleury during the Penguins run to the Stanley Cup this season, and saw action in one game relieving Fleury in one game during the Final.