Earlier this morning, news out of twitter suggested that the tenacious young forward Matt Calvert received a two year contract. He was scheduled to be an RFA this summer, and while his efforts in a Blue Jackets uniform over the last couple seasons can be easily compared to a roller coaster ride, his play of late justified a solid pay day. Here’s the first I saw of it, and a kudos to Rob Kunz over at 10TV for the retweet:
@Rob10TVSports: RT @RenLavoieRDS: Matt Calvert signed a contract extension with Blue Jackets. 2 years / $1 975 000 total. One way contract. #RDS #CBJ
For many reacting on twitter, this seems like the second great contract handed out by new GM Jarmo Kekalainen, and I tend to agree. This trend of modest deals will allow the Jackets to continue to bolster their roster without being handcuffed by overvalued forwards (see: Umberger, RJ) like the former regime seemed forced to do. In any case, here are the stats on Calvert, courtesy of ESPN;
10/11: 42GP – 11G – 9A – 20PTS – +3 – 12PIM – 50S – 22.0% – 11:06TOI
11/12: 13GP – 0G – 3A – 3PTS – -5 – 16PIM – 4S – 0% – 9:08TOI
12/13: 42GP – 9G – 7A – 16PTS – -9 – 32PIM – 63S – 14.3% – 14:11TOI
As mentioned, his experiences with the Blue Jackets have had some major ups and downs, but those looking deep at the numbers can see a positive trend. His shooting percentage in his first year was not sustainable, and yet, his production has continued to be positive this year with a much more realistic total. It is also worth pointing out that his new attitude towards the game of hockey after the 11/12 season proved his ability to overcome the early obstacle of being an NHL hockey player.
What these stats cannot begin to represent, is his incredible tenacity when on the ice. The ‘jets’ are turned up every time his shift starts, and they rarely stop until his feet are hopping back over the boards. His forecheck has opened the door for countless scoring opportunities for the team, and while his plus/minus is not exactly stellar, his on-ice CORSI is 4th on Columbus (in terms of players with 10+ games). A disputable statistic, but one that should probably not be ignored.
The contract signed today by Calvert and the Blue Jackets allows for a number of things. To begin, it allows Matt to play to his potential for the next two years without the burden of an increasing salary based on expectations (see: Mason, Steve). The two years will keep Calvert an RFA which gives the team the ability to have some control on his next contract, but the length of the contract also allows him to justify a larger raise in only a couple seasons worth of play.
Contract talk aside, I believe Calvert is an integral part of this team moving forward. He is very much a brick loaded with mortar in this franchise being bolstered by John Davidson and Kekalainen. His on ice efforts usually generate energy for the Blue Jackets, and often times lead to opposition mistakes and Columbus scoring chances. I could not be more pleased with this contract, and look forward to seeing what else this management team has to offer before the 2013/2014 begins.
Carry the Flag!
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