Blue Jackets Lock Up Malatesta for Another Year

Columbus keeps James Malatesta in the fold, and that usually says something about where a young player stands in the organization. A one-year deal is rarely splashy, but in NHL front offices it often signals a “prove it” runway with a little more seasoning still expected. The Blue Jackets clearly see enough to keep the door open, and Malatesta now has another season to turn that into something bigger.