One of former GM Jarmo Kekäläinen's more underrated signings came on May 3, 2021. That's the day that he signed little-known forward Justin Danforth.
The path to the NHL for Danforth was very interesting. After going undrafted, he played four years in the NCAA, the AHL, and the ECHL before leaving for Europe in 2018.
After playing in LIIGA for two seasons and the KHL for another, he came home to North America, where he would finally sign an NHL contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets in May of 2021.
In his first season with Columbus, he played in 45 games and had 14 points. On Mar. 8, 2022, Kekäläinen would reward Danforth with a two-year extension worth $975,000 a season.
Unfortunately for Danforth and the CBJ, he would suffer a shoulder injury just 6 games into the season. He wouldn't play again that season.
Kekäläinen signed Danforth again on October 11, 2023, this time to a one-year extension worth $1,100,000 per season through the 24-25 season. A few months later, Kekäläinen would be let go. The Jackets hired Don Waddell a couple of months later.
The 23-24 season saw Danforth play 71 games and be mostly healthy. He scored 10 goals and totaled 26 points while averaging 14:16 on ice.
Justin Danforth has only played 42 games for the Jackets this season due to injuries. He's scored 7 goals and has 15 points while playing 14:48 per game. He's right on pace to match last season's totals and is scoring at right around .36 ppg, which also is nearly identical to last season. His points per 60 minutes played are also right around 1.50 for both seasons. Per MoneyPuck.com, his Corsi, Fenwick, and most of his underlying stats are again nearly identical.
Let us not forget that Danforth scored a massive goal in the Stadium Series game against the Red Wings to win their first and only outdoor appearance.
So, does Don Waddell re-sign Justin Danforth? Is he worth bringing back for the next two years or so on what will be a relatively cheap contract? Danforth will be a UFA, so technically, he could sign anywhere, but would he choose Columbus if Waddell is interested? Columbus is the only team that gave him his NHL shot, after all.
The only question surrounding Danforth is whether or not he can stay healthy.
Waddell is going to have a ton of money to spend trying to build a championship roster this summer. Will Justin Danforth be a part of that roster?
What's Next: The Blue Jackets travel to New Jersey to play the Devils on Tuesday.
Let us know what you think below.
Stay updated with the most interesting Blue Jackets stories, analysis, breaking news, and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News and never miss a story.