-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 good fit with the Jackets with his speed, good hands and superb faceoff skills. The deal is also a good one for the club in terms of salary as it's a modest raise per season above the $3 million he's set to earn in 2009-10. 

T-he Florida Panthers bolstered their defense corps on Monday inking former Carolina Hurricanes blueliner Dennis Seidenberg to a one-year, $2.25 million contract.

Seidenberg, 28, is coming off a career-best performance with 30 points in 70 games last season with the Hurricanes. 

The Hurricanes had hoped to re-sign him but obviously for less than what he got from the Panthers, whose defense corps will play without Jay Bouwmeester, whom they deal to Calgary last June. 

Seidenberg won't replace Bouwmeester but he will help bring another measure of experienced depth to the Panthers blueline, probably on the second defense pairing.