With the NHL trade deadline now less than a week away, talk around the NHL is heating up in a big way, but it's not just trades that fans have to watch out for this week, as there has been plenty of speculation around the league about potential extensions upcoming soon.
According to recent reports, we may be on the verge of an extension for the surprising Columbus Blue Jackets, with David Pagnotta noting that Mathieu Olivier is on the verge of an extension in the very near future.
Olivier signed with the Blue Jackets back in 2023 on a two-year deal that carried a $1.1 million annual salary cap hit, and given how important his physical presence is on the ice for this young team, it's easy to see why they want to keep him around for a few more years.
In 2024/25, Olivier is on pace for a career high in points with 9 goals and 21 points through 60 games played, and with a crucial role on the fourth-line, the team want to keep the chemistry rolling as they build into a Stanley Cup Playoffs contender.
At 28-years of age, Olivier is effective now and is clearly just getting better, and if he can maintain this offensive production, the Blue Jackets may have themselves a key piece of their bottom-six for years to come, with all of these positives on top of being one of the best fighters currently active in the NHL.