COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The Columbus Blue Jackets signed
defenseman Rostislav Klesla, the team's first draft pick, to a
four-year contract Tuesday.
Klesla has played in 253 games with the Blue Jackets and has 20
goals and 46 assists. The 24-year-old set career highs for goals
(six) and assists (13) this season in 51 games. He also averaged a
career-best 21:26 of ice time.
"We have very high expectations for our team moving forward and
are thrilled that Rusty is going to be an integral part of our
franchise," Blue Jackets president and general manager Doug
MacLean said.
Klesla, a restricted free agent, was making just under $1
million a season. Financial terms of the new deal were not
announced.
A native of Novy Jicin, Czech Republic, Klesla was taken with
the fourth overall pick in the 2000 draft.