Don Waddell said he is close to coming to terms with Mathieu Olivier

Were you hoping to see Mathieu Olivier play for the Montreal Canadiens next season?

Unfortunately… You will be disappointed.

Aaron Portzline (The Athletic) has just published an article in which we learn that Mathieu Olivier will sign a long-term agreement with the Blue Jackets.

The agreement is not official yet, but could be within the next 24 hours.

This is at least what the team’s GM, Don Waddell, has stated.

We’re really getting close. We hope to conclude the agreement in about 24 hours. – Don Waddell

It wasn’t Waddell who spoke about the contract’s duration, but a source from the team stated that it would be a multi-year contract.

We’re talking about a contract of four years or more.

The Athletic: Blue Jackets are closing in on a long-term contract with Mathieu Olivierhttps://t.co/PbLR5URhUO#CBJ

— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) March 3, 2025

Clearly, we knew the Blue Jackets didn’t want to let him go.

The team wanted to offer him a new contract before the trade deadline and apparently, it’s about to happen.

I wonder if the Blue Jackets would have tried to send him elsewhere if this wasn’t the case. The Quebec native has significant value across the NHL and it’s certain that there would have been a lot of interest in his services…

But keeping him in Columbus is the right decision.

Mathieu Olivier will be part of the Jackets’ reconstruction and he may play a significant role because he has a strong voice in the locker room.

He is one of the team’s leaders… and he has the qualities to help the Columbus formation in the long term because he is 28 years old.

Extension

In all of this, Mathieu Olivier must be satisfied with the situation’s development.

Because he wanted to stay in Columbus.

The player knew there was a chance he could be traded, but his primary goal was to sign a new contract with the Blue Jackets.

Mathieu Olivier met with our journalist @JFChaumontLNH on the eve of an outdoor game in front of over 90,000 people at Ohio Stadium #CBJ

— LNH (@LNH_FR) February 28, 2025