Blue Jackets Sign Center Samuel Pahlsson

[ScottRasner]

COLUMBUS, OHIO – The Columbus Blue Jackets have signed center Samuel Pahlsson to a three-year contract, club General Manager Scott Howson announced July 1.

Pahlsson, 31, has registered 54 goals and 92 assists for 146 points with 260 penalty minutes in 557 career NHL games with the Boston Bruins, Anaheim Ducks and Chicago Blackhawks. He has added 9-19-28 and 54 penalty minutes in 81 career Stanley Cup Playoffs games. In 2008-09, he combined to tally 7-11-18 and 34 penalty minutes in 65 games with the Ducks and Blackhawks. He tallied 2-1-3 and two penalty minutes in 13 regular season games and added 2-3-5 and four penalty minutes in 17 Stanley Cup Playoffs games after joining Chicago at the March 4 trade.

"Sami Pahlsson is a very good two-way center who can play against the top players in the league and strengthens our hockey club at the center ice position," said Howson. "He won a Stanley Cup with Anaheim two years ago, played in the Finals in 2003 and won a gold medal with Sweden at the last Olympics, so he brings valuable experience at the highest level of competition to our dressing room."

The 6-foot, 205-pound center was originally Colorado’s 10th pick, 176th overall, in the 1996 Entry Draft. After playing five seasons with MoDo in the Swedish Elite League, Pahlsson made his NHL debut with Boston in 2000-01 and appeared in 17 games with the Bruins before joining the Ducks in November 2000. In 2002-03, he helped the Ducks reach the Stanley Cup Finals and in 2005-06 collected 11-10-21 and 34 penalty minutes in 82 games, setting a career high for goals as Anaheim advanced to the Western Conference Finals. In 2006-07, he registered a career-high 8-18-26 with 42 penalty minutes in 82 games and helped the Ducks win the Stanley Cup championship. That year he was also a finalist for the Frank J. Selke Trophy, awarded annually to the NHL’s top defensive forward.

A native of Ange, Sweden, Pahlsson has represented Sweden at numerous international competitions, including the 2006 Olympic Games in which he tallied 2-2-4 in eight games and helped his club win the gold medal. He has also played for Sweden at the 1999 (bronze), 2000, 2004 (silver) and 2005 World Championships and at the 1996 World Junior Championships (silver).

[OriginalSix]

Thank Christ! Most worthless piece of garbage to drift thru ChiTown in some years.

[lakingsfan19]

$7.95M 3 years

[chilly666]

over $2.5 million for 3 years holy ****!!! that guy isnt worth the gum stuck to the bottom of my shoes for 3 ****in years!!

[Viper207]

Well that was a crappy return on James Wisniewski. And I think that's way too much for Pahlsson, but three years at least lets them build a line around him.

[Isles4life]

Pahlsson was a great defensive forward for the Ducks en route to their Stanley Cup victory, but he hasn't really impressed me since. He didn't seem to be a factor for Chicago after they acquired him. The Blue Jackets might be able to use him and he could be a good signing if he can return to his form of a couple seasons ago. If not, then the guy will definitely be significantly overpaid considering he's only once hit double digits in goals.

[ShelleyFan45]

Originally Posted by Isles4life

Pahlsson was a great defensive forward for the Ducks en route to their Stanley Cup victory, but he hasn't really impressed me since. He didn't seem to be a factor for Chicago after they acquired him. The Blue Jackets might be able to use him and he could be a good signing if he can return to his form of a couple seasons ago. If not, then the guy will definitely be significantly overpaid considering he's only once hit double digits in goals.

They didn't sign him to be a goal scorer. He's going to center the checking line and hopefully provide the shut down defense he became known for in Anaheim. I think he is the ideal checking line center in a Ken Hitchcock system. He should do fine for the Jackets.

[Isles4life]

Originally Posted by ShelleyFan45

They didn't sign him to be a goal scorer. He's going to center the checking line and hopefully provide the shut down defense he became known for in Anaheim. I think he is the ideal checking line center in a Ken Hitchcock system. He should do fine for the Jackets.

Obviously he's not signed to be a goal scorer. I'm just saying he doesn't bring anything to the table in terms of offense if he's not doing his job as the shutdown center. Coming off a pretty poor season by his standards, Columbus gave him a nice contract. If he doesn't elevate his play significantly, he will be getting overpaid.

[ShelleyFan45]

Originally Posted by Isles4life

Obviously he's not signed to be a goal scorer. I'm just saying he doesn't bring anything to the table in terms of offense if he's not doing his job as the shutdown center. Coming off a pretty poor season by his standards, Columbus gave him a nice contract. If he doesn't elevate his play significantly, he will be getting overpaid.

I agree with that assessment.

[AVALANCHE FAN]

Id take my chances on someone from Syracuse before Id wast almost 8 mill of cap space on Pahlsson.

[Supercup]

Sammy played over 586 games, never missed a game, a Ducks record. He anchored the Ducks shut down line for 5 years. Joe Thorton was asked who he hated to play against the most, he did not hesitate and said "Sammy Paulson". He has been durable, great at face off's and and great at shutting down the leagues best players and in 2007 he delivered key playoff scoring on the way to the Cup.

He suffered an internal injury and was slow to recover in 2008. When he gets back to full health he will become a fan favorite for the things he does so well, and often go unnoticed. If he gets back to full potential he is a good value. He is a very hard worker, so no issue in him taken the money and taking it easy.

If he does not get back to his 2007 form, well then he is what Free Agency is all about, an opportunity for a player to get paid for years of hard work and for GM's to overpay in hopes they can continue to play at that level and make their team better. Ask any Ducks fan they would take Sammy back in a heartbeat~!

JCM

[Grittzkey]

I liked Sami. but overpayed

[chilly666]

Originally Posted by Supercup

Sammy played over 586 games, never missed a game, a Ducks record. He anchored the Ducks shut down line for 5 years. Joe Thorton was asked who he hated to play against the most, he did not hesitate and said "Sammy Paulson". He has been durable, great at face off's and and great at shutting down the leagues best players and in 2007 he delivered key playoff scoring on the way to the Cup.

He suffered an internal injury and was slow to recover in 2008. When he gets back to full health he will become a fan favorite for the things he does so well, and often go unnoticed. If he gets back to full potential he is a good value. He is a very hard worker, so no issue in him taken the money and taking it easy.

If he does not get back to his 2007 form, well then he is what Free Agency is all about, an opportunity for a player to get paid for years of hard work and for GM's to overpay in hopes they can continue to play at that level and make their team better. Ask any Ducks fan they would take Sammy back in a heartbeat~!

JCM

yes he did miss a bunch of games this year with mono. but he doesnt do enough to warrant almost $3 million/year from anyone.

[Supercup]

Originally Posted by chilly666

yes he did miss a bunch of games this year with mono. but he doesnt do enough to warrant almost $3 million/year from anyone.

Agreed shut down guys generally don't get that kind of money - but at Free Agent time everyone seems to get "top" dollar!

Look what Burke did for Burtuzzi (2 yrs @ $4M) - Cost the the Ducks dearly! Burke always says that they (GM's) loose their minds at this time of year. Good thing Burke is in Toronto now.

JCM

[ShelleyFan45]

Originally Posted by AVALANCHE FAN

Id take my chances on someone from Syracuse before Id wast almost 8 mill of cap space on Pahlsson.

There's no one ready in Syracuse to be a shut down checking line center, not to mention it isn't 8 mil of cap space. It's only a 2.65 mil cap hit a year, I'm not worried about that at all. Jackets have plenty of cap space, he makes their team better.