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