COLUMBUS, OHIO -- Since the NEFHL Insider has chosen not to announce the Columbus Blue Jackets signings this offseason, the club has taken it upon itself to break the news that franchise goaltender Jaroslav Halak has finally reached a new deal to stay in Columbus. Although the Jackets were initially hoping to re-sign their netminder to a 3-year term, Halak was insistent upon receiving the league maximum 4-year deal and agreed to take less money in order to do so. His new deal will see him earn $4,850,000 per year.
Although the Jackets eventually locked up their Slovakian goalie, the negotiations between the club and Halak's agent were long and difficult, as can be seen by the exchange of offers below:
| RFA | Jaroslav Halak | G | $4,850,000 | 3 years @ $3,900,000 | Wants much more | --- |
| RFA | Jaroslav Halak | G | $4,850,000 | 4 years @ $4,200,000 | Wants much more | --- |
| RFA | Jaroslav Halak | G | $4,850,000 | 4 years @ $4,400,000 | Wants a little more | --- |
| RFA | Jaroslav Halak | G | $4,850,000 | 3 years @ $4,600,000 | Wants a little more | --- |
| RFA | Jaroslav Halak | G | $4,850,000 | 3 years @ $4,800,000 | Wants a longer deal | --- |
| RFA | Jaroslav Halak | G | $4,850,000 | 3 years @ $5,150,000 | Wants a longer deal | --- |
| RFA | Jaroslav Halak | G | $4,850,000 | 3 years @ $5,250,000 | Wants a longer deal | --- |
| RFA | Jaroslav Halak | G | $4,850,000 | 3 years @ $5,350,000 | Wants a longer deal | --- |
| RFA | Jaroslav Halak | G | $4,850,000 | 3 years @ $5,500,000 | Wants a longer deal | --- |
| RFA | Jaroslav Halak | G | $4,850,000 | 4 years @ $4,750,000 | Wants a little more | --- |
| RFA | Jaroslav Halak | G | $4,850,000 | 4 years @ $4,850,000 | Offer accepted | --- |
With this signing out of the way, the Jackets can now focus on the Unrestricted Free Agent market, where the team is said to be in the hunt for a top-4 defenseman.
-- BJ Express