Blue Jackets sign Olivier to six-year extension

Wednesday, March 5, 2025
Staff Reports
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CBJ's Mathieu Olivier battles for puck

Columbus Blue Jacket forward Mathieu Olivier (24), who has set career-best records in almost every category this season, has had his contract extended by six years. File photo

The Columbus Blue Jackets announced Wednesday that they have signed forward Mathieu Olivier to a six-year, $18 million contract extension ($3 million AAV) through the 2030-31 National Hockey League season.

Olivier, 28, has recorded 25 goals and 30 assists for 55 points with 352 penalty minutes, 675 hits, 184 blocked shots, and 246 shots on goal, while averaging 11:59 of ice time in 229 career games with the Blue Jackets and Nashville Predators since making his NHL debut in 2019-20.
 
He has posted 22-26-48 with 264 PIM, 573 hits and 210 shots on goal in 181 career appearances with Columbus since being acquired in a trade from Nashville on June 30, 2022.
 
“Mathieu Olivier has emerged as a key contributor on and off the ice thanks to his work ethic, dedication, leadership and other intangibles that are critical to a team’s success,” said Waddell. “Ensuring that Mathieu remains a Blue Jacket was a priority for us and we are ecstatic that he and his family will be part of our Blue Jackets family for many years.”
 
The 6-1, 226-pound forward has notched 12-9-21 with 113 PIM, 232 hits, 66 blocked shots and 80 shots on goal, while averaging 14:26 of ice time and skating in all 61 games with the Blue Jackets this season.
 
He ranks second in the NHL in penalty minutes as well as hits and is one of two players (Ottawa’s Brady Tkachuk) with 10-plus goals and 70 or more penalty minutes.  He has also set single-season career highs in goals, points, penalty minutes, hits, blocked shots and shots on goal in 2024-25.
 
Originally signed by Nashville to a two-year entry-level contract on May 1, 2019, he skated in eight games with the club in 2019-20. He finished fifth in the league in penalty minutes in 2020-21 after posting 3-2-5 and 70 PIM in 30 appearances with the Predators. He set a career high in assists and games played in his first campaign with Columbus in 2022-23, finishing with 5-10-15 and 81 PIM in 66 outings.
 
Olivier was born in Biloxi, Mississippi and grew up in Levis, Quebec. He has added 19-23-42 and 262 PIM in 156 career American Hockey League contests with the Milwaukee Admirals from 2018-22. 
 
He totaled 59-71-130, 390 PIM and a cumulative +27 plus/minus rating in 300 career games with the Sherbrooke Phoenix, Shawinigan Cataractes and Moncton Wildcats in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League from 2013-18.
 
When asked about his reasons to sign a long-term extension with the Jackets, Olivier said, ” First of all, I think our group is fantastic. The way we’ve built something that we can be proud of this year. But not only that, but be competitive in the playoffs and try to make a push here for them.”
 
He added, “As far as my family, my wife and kids, they really love Columbus. We love everything about it. There’s something for everyone, such a great city. People are so nice.”
 
The Blue Jackets return to action on Thursday at the Florida Panthers. Game time from Amerant Bank Arena is 7 p.m. EST.