New Blue Jacket Brandon Saad signs six-year, $36M extension

The Columbus Blue Jackets were one of the most aggressive teams in the first few days of free agency, and on Friday they got down to one of their most pressing pieces of business.

The Blue Jackets announced they have signed recently acquired forward Brandon Saad to a six-year contract extension for what the Associated Press reported is $36 million.

Columbus acquired Saad in a stunning trade with the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday.

"Adding a player of Brandon's caliber is exciting for the Columbus Blue Jackets organization, and our fans and we are extremely pleased to have reached this long-term commitment that assures he will be an important part of our team for years to come," Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said in a team news release Friday afternoon.

The 22-year-old Saad, a native of Pittsburgh, won two Stanley Cup championships with the Blackhawks after being drafted by the team 43rd overall in the 2011 draft.