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While still talking with representatives of three restricted free agents, the Blue Jackets added to their organizational depth up front by re-signing forward Danton Heinen on July 22 to a one-year, two-way contract.
More: Jet Greaves seeks $7.5 million. Will the Columbus Blue Jackets blink?
Heinen, 31, arrived midway through last season as part of the Blue Jackets' return in a trade that sent forward Egor Chinakhov to the Pittsbugh Penguins. Heinen played in 46 NHL games in 2025-26 between the Penguins and Blue Jackets, finishing with six goals, six assists and 12 points.
Following the trade, he contributed 5-5-10 in 33 game for the Blue Jackets. Heinen became a lineup staple for coach Rick Bowness, who took over the bench from Dean Evason on Jan. 12 to spark a sharp rise up the Eastern Conference standings.
Heinen is a versatile forward who can play on either wing and any of the four forward lines. He'll make $1 million at the NHL level on the new deal, $550,000 if playing with the AHL's Cleveland Monsters and is guaranteed to make at a minimum of $700,000.
As for their RFAs, the Blue Jackets continue talking with representatives for center Adam Fantilli, goalie Jet Greaves and forward Cole Sillinger. Greaves and Sillinger have arbitration hearings approaching, including the former's set for 9 a.m. on July 23 in Toronto.
The Blue Jackets and Greaves can reach agreement on a contract extension all the way up to the start of the hearing, but it'll shift to an arbiter for the first time in franchise history once it starts. Briefs filed for the hearing on July 21 revelaed a wide gap between what Greaves is asking from the arbiter on a one-year contract.
The goalie is looking for $7.5 million and the team requested $2.8 million. Should a hearing be conducted, the arbiter will decide Greaves' salary for next season and can choose any amount equal to at least 85% of the $825,000 he made last season.
Sillinger's arbitration hearing is set for July 27 in Toronto if the two sides can't hammer out an agreement. The Blue Jackets are believed to want longer term than Greaves and Sillinger are seeking with each deal.
Fantilli, meanwhile, doesn't have enough NHL service time to have arbitration rights. His next contract, however, is expected to land in the double digits after fellow 2023 NHL Draft peers Leo Carlsson ($18 million) and Connor Bedard ($15 million) signed new deals with the Anaheim Ducks and Chicago Blackhawks respectively.
Dispatch Blue Jackets reporter Brian Hedger can be reached at [email protected]
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Blue Jackets re-sign Danton Heinen amid contract talks
Continue reading...
More: Jet Greaves seeks $7.5 million. Will the Columbus Blue Jackets blink?
Heinen, 31, arrived midway through last season as part of the Blue Jackets' return in a trade that sent forward Egor Chinakhov to the Pittsbugh Penguins. Heinen played in 46 NHL games in 2025-26 between the Penguins and Blue Jackets, finishing with six goals, six assists and 12 points.
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Following the trade, he contributed 5-5-10 in 33 game for the Blue Jackets. Heinen became a lineup staple for coach Rick Bowness, who took over the bench from Dean Evason on Jan. 12 to spark a sharp rise up the Eastern Conference standings.
Heinen is a versatile forward who can play on either wing and any of the four forward lines. He'll make $1 million at the NHL level on the new deal, $550,000 if playing with the AHL's Cleveland Monsters and is guaranteed to make at a minimum of $700,000.
As for their RFAs, the Blue Jackets continue talking with representatives for center Adam Fantilli, goalie Jet Greaves and forward Cole Sillinger. Greaves and Sillinger have arbitration hearings approaching, including the former's set for 9 a.m. on July 23 in Toronto.
The Blue Jackets and Greaves can reach agreement on a contract extension all the way up to the start of the hearing, but it'll shift to an arbiter for the first time in franchise history once it starts. Briefs filed for the hearing on July 21 revelaed a wide gap between what Greaves is asking from the arbiter on a one-year contract.
You must be registered for see images attach
The goalie is looking for $7.5 million and the team requested $2.8 million. Should a hearing be conducted, the arbiter will decide Greaves' salary for next season and can choose any amount equal to at least 85% of the $825,000 he made last season.
Sillinger's arbitration hearing is set for July 27 in Toronto if the two sides can't hammer out an agreement. The Blue Jackets are believed to want longer term than Greaves and Sillinger are seeking with each deal.
Fantilli, meanwhile, doesn't have enough NHL service time to have arbitration rights. His next contract, however, is expected to land in the double digits after fellow 2023 NHL Draft peers Leo Carlsson ($18 million) and Connor Bedard ($15 million) signed new deals with the Anaheim Ducks and Chicago Blackhawks respectively.
Dispatch Blue Jackets reporter Brian Hedger can be reached at [email protected]
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Blue Jackets re-sign Danton Heinen amid contract talks
Continue reading...
