The Columbus Blue Jackets have signed forward Dmitri Voronkov to a two-year, $8.35 million contract ($4.175 million AAV) through the 2026-27 National Hockey League season, the club  announced Saturday. Had he not signed, he would have been a restricted free agent and eligible to file for salary arbitration at 5:00 p.m. Saturday.

“We are very pleased to reach this agreement with Dmitri as he is an important part of our young core,” said Waddell. “He has size, strength and excellent hands and has a chance to be a very special player. We look forward to his continued growth and development as a Blue Jacket.”

Voronkov, 24, has registered 41 goals and 40 assists and a cumulative +11 plus/minus, while averaging 15:06 of ice time in 148 career games with Columbus since making his NHL debut in 2023-24. He leads the club in power play goals and ranks third in goals and points (tied) over the past two seasons.

He was originally selected by the Blue Jackets in the fourth-round, 114th overall, at the 2019 NHL Draft. A native of Angarsk, Russia, Voronkov set single-season career highs in 2024-25 after posting 23-24-47, 154 shots on goal and a +17 plus/minus rating on 16:47 time on ice in 73 contests. He also led the team in power play goals.

The 6-5, 227-pound forward led NHL rookies in 2023-24 in power play goals and ranked fifth in goals in 75 appearances with Columbus. He also posted the third-most goals and power play goals by a rookie in franchise history in 2023-24. 

Voronkov spent five seasons with AK Bars Kazan in Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League from 2019-23, collecting 37-37-74 in 182 career games played. He won a silver medal with the Olympic Athletes of Russia at the 2022 Olympic Games and represented Russia at the 2021 IIHF World Championships.