- Blue Jackets re-sign defenseman Corson Ceulemans to a one-year, two-way deal for 2026-27
- The 2021 first-round pick gets $850K at the NHL level and $95K in the AHL
- Read below for Ceulemans’ breakout AHL season and where he fits in Columbus
The Blue Jackets aren’t done with Corson Ceulemans yet. Columbus re-signed the 23-year-old defenseman to a one-year, two-way contract extension for the 2026-27 season, with general manager Don Waddell making it official over the weekend.
His new deal pays $850,000 at the NHL level and $95,000 in the AHL, as The Athletic’s Aaron Portzline reported.
Columbus took Ceulemans 25th overall back in 2021. Five years later, he’s one of just three first-rounders from that class who still hasn’t played an NHL game.
He’s spent his entire pro career with the Cleveland Monsters, the Blue Jackets’ AHL affiliate. Across 157 games there, the blueliner has piled up 14 goals and 31 assists.
This past season was his best one yet. Ceulemans set career highs with eight goals and 24 points in 64 games, led Monsters defensemen in goals and shots on net, and handled top-four minutes plus penalty-kill work along the way.
Waddell talked up what the young defenseman brings to the table.
“Corson is a talented, young defenseman with excellent offensive instincts, skating ability and puck-moving skills,” Waddell said.
A one-year, two-way contract is a show-me deal. It buys Ceulemans another season to crack a Columbus blue line that’s been through plenty of change in Columbus this offseason, and it keeps a former first-round pick in the system without locking up real money to find out if he can stick.
