<p>One of the biggest pending unrestricted free agents is off the board early.</p>



<p>Sources have confirmed to <a href="https://twitter.com/frank_seravalli/status/1667164354926575621" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli</a> that the Columbus Blue Jackets have acquired defenseman Damon Severson from the New Jersey Devils. The Devils will receive a 2023 third-round pick in the deal, currently slated to be the 80th overall selection.</p>



<p>The Blue Jackets then signed Severson to an eight-year deal with a $6.25 million AAV. The deal will include a four-year no-trade clause before a four-year modified-NTC kicks in in 2027. Severson’s deal will run until 2031.</p>



<p>Severson was the top free agent on <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/bertuzzi-severson-orlov-projected-for-richest-contracts-among-top-50-free-agents" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Seravalli’s most recent top 50 board</a>, with a salary projection of $6.1 million over six years according to AFP Analytics. Severson is coming off of a of a six-year deal with the Devils with an AAV of $4.166 million. </p><div class="injected-ad injected-video" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="0" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="139"></div>



<p>The 28-year-old from Melville, Saskatchewan, has proven to be a valuable NHL defenseman, scoring a career-high 11 goals and 46 points in 2021-22. He had had seven goals and 33 points in the regular season and another three points during the playoffs this year with the Devils, the team that drafted him 60th overall in 2012.</p>



<p>The move is yet another in a busy offseason for the Blue Jackets, who acquired Ivan Provorov from the Philadelphia Flyers earlier in the week. They’re also expected to name Mike Babcock coach in a prelude to a summer that has seen the Blue Jackets looking to make a big step next year. The club signed Johnny Gaudreau to  a deal last summer but proceeded to finish near the bottom of the standings. Injuries played a big part in that, but the team is hoping its moves this summer can push it closer to playoff contention.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="1" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="153"></div>



<p>Columbus could start the season with a top-four involving Provorov, Severson, Zach Werenski and top prospect David Jiricek. The team also has Denton Mateychuk, Corson Ceulemans and Stanislav Svozil in the ranks, as well as current NHLers Adam Boqvist, Andrew Beeke and Erik Gudbranson.</p>
