Blue Jackets re-sign Harrington to 3-year deal

The Columbus Blue Jackets have re-signed restricted free-agent defenseman Scott Harrington to a three-year contract, the team announced Friday.

The deal carries an average annual value of $1.63 million, according to Aaron Portzline of The Athletic.

Harrington is known more for his contributions on the defensive side of the puck rather than the offensive side. He had 17 points and 81 blocked shots while averaging just over 13 minutes per game in a career-high 73 contests last season. He skated in all 10 of Columbus' playoff games, tallying four assists.

The 26-year-old is arguably the team's best penalty-killing blue-liner. Among the five defensemen who regularly killed penalties for the Blue Jackets last season, Harrington was on the ice for the fewest high-danger scoring chances against and fewest goals against per 60 minutes when the team was shorthanded, according to Natural Stat Trick.

Originally a second-round pick of the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2011, Harrington was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2015 as a part of the Phil Kessel trade. He was sent to the Jackets a year later in exchange for Kerby Rychel.

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