One of GM Jarmo Kekalainen's offseason tasks is complete with the re-signing of RFA Artem Anisimov official. Anisimov secured a three-year deal that is worth $9.85MM. He just completed the last season of a two-year contract that paid the center $1.875MM per. Anisimov earned a nifty 75% raise in his new contract.

The 25 year-old pivot netted 11 goals and 18 points in 35 contests for the Jackets after coming over last summer in the Rick Nash trade. Anisimov tallied three game-winners and led the club with his 16.2% shooting percentage.

It's a good move to get this kid locked up for the next three seasons. He brings needed size and skill to the lineup and as long as he stays healthy should be a solid bet to score 20+ goals. At the least the Jackets have a solid second line pivot under contract at a reasonable rate.

Meanwhile, in his 30 Thoughts column on CBC, Elliote Friedman indicated that the Jackets could be looking to add Detroit Red Wings forward Valtteri Filppula as an UFA this summer.

Will every Finnish player be linked to Columbus Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen? The latest has unrestricted free agent-to-be Valtteri Filppula as a strong candidate for Columbus.

Even after acquiring Marian Gaborik at the trade deadline the Jackets need top-shelf skill and Filppula has shown he has the ability to score. He struggled this season tallying just nine goals and 17 points in 41 games with the Wings. However Filppula enjoyed a breakout campaign the year before scroing 23 goals and 66 points.

Filppula can play center or on the wing and as one of the top offenisve players on the market he should be in line to make some decent coin. If Friedman's sources are correct, the fact the Jackets are willing to join the fray to sign Filppula is evidence that ownership and management are willing to spend to improve this club. As encouraging as the Jackets play down the stretch was it would be foolish for Kekalainen to have simply returned the same roster and expect to compete for a playoff berth.

There is no doubt that without the superlative effort of Bob, the Jackets would not have been in contention for the postseason through game 48. Expecting the team's current young roster players to step up and take on bigger roles is fine but an outside shot of skill is needed and Filppula is a solid option in that regard.

On the flip side Columbus can't afford to be wrong either. Chances are that Filppula will be able to net a long-term deal with an AAV in excess of $4MM per. If Filppula flops ala Ville Leino then Columbus is in deep trouble because the simply don't have the resources to deal with a sunk cost of that size.

Let's hope for Columbus' sake that if Kekalainen does take that plunge then he is right about Filppula.

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