Blue Jackets Re-Sign Ron Hainsey to Two-Year Deal
 

COLUMBUS, OHIO - The Columbus Blue Jackets have re-signed defenseman Ron Hainsey to a two-year deal, club President and General Manager Doug MacLean announced today.

Hainsey, 25, appeared in 55 games with the Blue Jackets last season and tallied two goals and 15 assists for 17 points with 43 penalty minutes and led the team in plus/minus rating with a club record +13. He was claimed off waivers from Montreal on Nov. 29 and made his Blue Jackets debut the following night at Minnesota. He had his first career multi-point game with 0-2-2 on Dec. 26 vs. Chicago and also tallied 0-2-2 on Feb. 8 vs. Los Angeles and Mar. 25 at Detroit.

"We are very pleased to have Ron back with us," said MacLean. "Last season he came in after he was claimed off waivers and played well the last 50 games of the season. We are pleased with his progress and think that he can develop into a strong player in the National Hockey League."

Prior to joining the Blue Jackets, Hainsey played in 22 games for the Hamilton Bulldogs of the American Hockey League. He scored 3-14-17 with 19 penalty minutes and recorded his 100th career AHL point with an assist in his first game of the season on Oct. 14 vs. Grand Rapids.

Hainsey has appeared in 87 career NHL games, tallying 3-16-19 and 47 penalty minutes with Montreal and Columbus. He joined the Canadiens organization late in the 2000-01 season. In his first full professional campaign in 2001-02, he earned AHL All-Rookie Team honors with Quebec as he registered 7-24-31 and 35 penalty minutes in 63 games. Hainsey has spent parts of the past three years with Hamilton, including 2004-05 when he had 9-14-23 and 51 penalty minutes in 68 games. In 244 career AHL games, he has collected 29-87-116 and 151 penalty minutes.

Montreal's first pick, 13th overall, in the 2000 Entry Draft, Hainsey played two seasons at UMass-Lowell, where he was a NCAA East Second Team All-American and Hockey East First Team All-Star in 2000-01 after leading all league defensemen in scoring with 10-26-36 and 51 penalty minutes in 33 games. In 1999-00, he was a Hockey East All-Rookie Team selection after tallying 3-8-11 and 20 penalty minutes in 30 games.

A native of Bolton, Connecticut, he spent two years in the United States Development Program prior to attending UMass-Lowell. Hainsey also represented Team USA at the 2000 (1-1-2 in seven games) and 2001 (0-5-5 in seven games) World Junior Championships.

This is a good move for the Jackets. He played well for us in the time he was here. Even though he only had 2 goals, one was highlight reel material, an end-to-end rush that was awesome to watch. Glad he's locked up for 2 years.

great signing by the jackets

Great signing! Hainsey is a solid d-man, and I'm glad to see he will be back in Columbus

if i were you sure i would be glad.Now im trying to know why to the habs get rid of that man.

They tried to sneak him thru waivers and the Jackets' GM picked him up. Smart move on his part.