The respective management of the Columbus Blue Jackets and Anaheim Ducks have begun re-signing their free agent players.

On Tuesday the Blue Jackets announced the re-signing of defenseman Jan Hejda to a three year, $6 million contract, while the Ducks re-signed forward Ryan Carter to a three-year contract.

Hejda’s new contract breaks down as $2 million per season against the Jackets salary cap, while financial terms for Carter’s new deal have yet to be disclosed.

The 29-year-old Hejda was coming off his second NHL season and his first with Columbus but under the terms of the NHL’s CBA he was eligible for unrestricted free agency this summer.

Given his statistics from last season, however, it’s not surprising that Blue Jackets general manager Scott Howson was loath to lose him to the UFA market. In 81 games this season Hejda registered 13 points and an impressive plus-minus rating of +20, best on the Jackets and tied for tenth amongst NHL defensemen.

Hejda was a true workhorse on the Blue Jackets defense, regularly logging over 22 minutes of ice time per game. Had he hit this summer’s unrestricted free agent market he would’ve attracted considerable interest from clubs seeking defensive depth, so it’s a good move by Howson to retain Hejda and at a reasonable price.

Carter, 24, saw limited action with the Ducks this season as he bounced between the big club and their farm team in Portland earlier in the season. Recalled in mid-December he stuck with the Ducks until sidelined in late-February with a broken wrist, although he returned in time to play in all six of their playoff games this spring.

He was only under contract for $560K this season so it’s unlikely he got much more than that, however, Carter is to be commended for his hard work in making and sticking with the defending Stanley Cup champions this season.

The Hockey News’ 2007-08 Yearbook ranked him tenth among their top ten prospects, noting he “combines skill with a physical presence”, which were notable in his limited action this season with the Ducks. He’s also a versatile forward, capable of playing both center and left wing.