Severson is prepared to begin a new chapter in Columbus.
NEWARK, N.J. -- Damon Severson experienced a first in his nine-year career on Friday afternoon. Sitting at his dad's house in Saskatchewan, he addressed the media after being involved in his first trade since breaking into the league in 2014. In true Damon Severson fashion, he joked with media members on the introductory Zoom call and responded candidly during his 15-minute availability.
Going back to his exit interview with New Jersey Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald, Severson knew precisely where he stood with the organization that drafted him.
"I had my year-end exit meeting with (Fitzgerald), and he was really just smiling, and I came in, and he's like, 'Well, pal, you know, it sucks for me to say, but I can't afford you,' and he was honest with me right off the bat."
New Jersey's general manager continued to tell Severson that they appreciate everything he did for the organization during his tenure.
The process moved quickly for the 28-year-old once New Jersey gave Columbus permission to speak with Severson. During his availability, Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen admitted that his team scouted the former Devils player throughout the 2022-23 campaign and said he was the organization's number one defensive target on the UFA market.
As expected, Columbus' pitch for the Melville, Saskatchewan native was aggressive. Severson was part of a Zoom call with the Blue Jackets' management, including their director of player development, Rick Nash, who became a crucial player in this process.
Nash served as the assistant general manager for Team Canada at the 2022 IIHF World Championships, a team that Severson played for. The ex-Devil said seeing a friendly face on the call was cool and that he played a big factor in his ultimate decision.
"(Nash) obviously had a lot of good things to say about me. He was fully on board and was a deciding factor, for sure," said Severson. "He was a huge piece of me wanting to go to Columbus when he started to speak and started to talk about his experiences and then about my game and how I can help them and what he's seen for me. Just being around him and all the respect I have for him, I would say Rick Nash was a key part of it as well."
Severson said he preferred a long-term deal but also considered a short-term contract. He sat down with his wife, Drey, and compiled a list of teams.
"We wanted to set up somewhere where we can start a family and raise a family in a safe place and a place we wanted to be, he said. "We had lists of teams that had pros and cons and places we would consider going, and Columbus popped up."
"We kind of looked back at some of our notes, and both of us looked at each other," he continued. "We don't really know much about this place, but everything we've heard and people we've talked to, they've loved it, and they've said nothing but good things. Once we had the call and the contract and business side of things kind of came together, it was a no-brainer."
Severson and his wife will spend time in Kelowna before they make plans with the Blue Jackets and schedule their first initial visit to Columbus, where they will get the lay of the land and figure out where they will live.