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sports Diahuebs 7 Januari 2021

Blue Jackets sign Bjorkstrand to 5-year contract extension

(AP) — The Columbus “You work hard and try to and six assists in 31 career
Blue Jackets have signed improve your game all the playoff games.
forward Oliver Bjork- time. There’s a lot of hard “Oliver is a gifted player that
strand to a five-year con- times, where you might be has shown steady improve-
tract extension worth $27 tired but you keep grinding,” ment throughout (his) career
million. he said. “Just very happy that to this point, and we couldn’t
The deal announced I had the opportunity to sign be happier that he will be a
Wednesday will keep one of that kind of contract and Blue Jacket for a very long
the team’s best young play- set up my future. Very, very time,” general manager Jar-
ers in Columbus through the pumped about it.” mo Kekalainen said in a state-
2025-26 season. He had one ment. “He is a dangerous
season remaining on his cur- Bjorkstrand has posted 65 offensive player, and we be-
rent contract. goals and 68 assists in 246 lieve he will be an even more
“When they started talking career games with the Blue impactful player for us as he
to me, you get excited,” said Jackets since making his continues to develop and ma-
Bjorkstrand, who estimat- NHL debut during the 2015- ture in this league.”
ed the deal has been in the 16 season. He has scored 20- The native of Herning, Den-
works for a month. “It’s defi- led the team in goals (21), shots (162) despite missing plus goals in back-to-back mark, was selected by Co-
nitely very nice to get some- game-winning goals (five) 21 games due to injury in the seasons and has three straight lumbus in the third round
thing done.” and multi-point outings pandemic-shortened 2019- seasons with at least 36 (89th overall) in 2013 NHL
The 25-year-old Bjorkstrand (11), and finished third in 20 season. points. He also has six goals draft.

Mara optimistic about Giants future, GM Gettleman returning

(AP) — While sick of the The Giants went 6-10 under New York has been to the
losing seasons, co-owner the recently turned 39-year- playoffs once (2016) since
John Mara felt the New old Judge. They had a chance winning its fourth Super
York Giants established to win the NFC East until Bowl in February 2012.
a foundation and culture Washington beat Philadel-
under rookie coach Joe phia in game where Eagles The Giants took a signifi-
Judge, giving him opti- coach Doug Pederson pulled cant financial hit in this sea-
mism the playoffs may not his starting quarterback with son where the Giants did not
be far away. the game on the line. have the benefit of fans in
attendance at MetLife Sta-
Mara also disclosed 69-year- Mara said he did not reach dium because of COVID-19
old Dave Gettleman would out to the Eagles for an ex- concerns. He did not say
be back for a fourth season planation. He added said the how much the team lost, but
despite seeing the team win Giants needed to win more it would not affect the team’s
15 games in his first three than six games. ability to be active in the free
years as general manager. agent market.

Sabres lose F Girgensons to season-ending hamstring injury

(AP) — Buffalo Sabres The Sabres also added pros-
forward Zemgus Girgen- pects Dylan Cozens and Jack
sons is expected to miss Quinn to their training camp
the entire season after roster a day after the two rep-
having surgery to repair resented Canada at the World
a hamstring injury he suf- Junior championship tourna-
fered in a team scrimmage ment in Edmonton, Alberta.
on Monday. Canada won the silver medal
with a 2-0 loss to the United
The Sabres announced Gir- States on Tuesday.
gensons’ injury upon return-
ing to training camp Wednes- It’s unclear when the two will
day following a day off and join the team.
said the timetable for recov- Cozens, Buffalo’s first-
ery is about six months. round pick in the 2019 draft,
Girgensons, who is from scored a tournament-leading
Latvia, was preparing for his eight goals and finished sec-
eighth season in Buffalo after ond with 16 points in seven
being re-signed to a three- games. The 19-year-old cen-
year, $6.6 million contract in ter will be given an oppor-
October. Selected by the Sa- tunity to compete for a spot
bres in the first round of the with the Sabres while still
2012 draft, he has developed being eligible to return to his
into a dependable checking- Canadian junior team in Le-
line forward. thbridge, Alberta.
He had 12 goals and 19 points Quinn, selected with the
in 69 games last season. No. 8 pick in October, had a
Overall, Girgensons has 61 goal and four assists in seven
goals and 138 points in 489 games at the world juniors.
career games with the Sabres. The 19-year-old right wing
Buffalo, which opens the sea- good news on Wednesday after missing the first four practiced for the first time af- is still eligible to return to his
son by hosting Washington with captain Jack Eichel mak- days with a lower body inju- ter completing his self-quar- Canadian junior team in Ot-
on Jan. 14, did receive some ing his training camp debut ry. Goalie Linus Ullmark also antine requirements. tawa.