The Columbus Blue Jackets have signed defenseman Erik Gudbranson to a one-year, $1.75 million contract for the 2026-27 season, club general manager Don Waddell announced today. After four seasons with the Blue Jackets, Gudbranson became a free agent on July 1. 

“Erik has been the consummate professional during his Blue Jackets career, providing a physical, steady presence on our blueline and great leadership on and off the ice and we are thrilled that he will continue be an important part of our group,” said Waddell.

Gudbranson, 34, has registered 35 goals and 105 assists with 1,757 hits and 1,157 blocked shots in 842 career games over 15 NHL seasons. In addition to the Blue Jackets, he has played with the Calgary Flames, Nashville Predators, Ottawa Senators, Anaheim Ducks, Pittsburgh Penguins, Vancouver Canucks, and Florida Panthers since 2011-12.

He has posted 100 or more hits in nine of the 11 seasons with at least 40 games played. He has added 1-1-2 in 31 career Stanley Cup Playoff appearances.

The 6-5, 222-pound defenseman has collected 8-38-46, 282 hits, and 390 blocked shots in 201 career games with the Blue Jackets. He signed with the club as a free agent on July 13, 2022, the same day that Johnny Gaudreau, his teammate in Calgary, inked a free agent deal with Columbus.

Gudbranson has been hindered with injuries the past two seasons. Last season, he suffered a hip injury that allowed him to play in just 37 games, posting 1-2-3 with 45 hits and 64 blocked shots.

He posted double-digit points in his first two seasons with the club, setting career-highs with 6-20-26 and a team-high 170 blocks in 78 contests in 2023-24.

Gudbranson was originally drafted by Florida in the first-round, third overall, at the 2010 NHL Draft and collected 11-32-43 in 309 games during his first five seasons in the league.

He skated with the Canucks for two seasons before splitting the 2018-19 campaign between Vancouver and Pittsburgh. He would also split the 2019-20 (Pittsburgh and Anaheim) and 2020-21 (Ottawa and Nashvillle) seasons between multiple clubs. 

A native of Ottawa, Ontario, Gudbranson represented Canada on the international level at the 2011 (silver medal) and 2014 IIHF World Championships.