Photo: Emilee Chinn / Getty Images Sport / Getty Images
The Blue Jackets are rewarding a gritty forward.
The team announced on Wednesday that Mathieu Olivier has agreed to a six-year, 18-million-dollar deal to stay with Columbus.
General manager Don Waddell told the media that Olivier is a "key player" on and off the ice and has taken a big step in his development.
The 28-year-old has a career-high in goals this season with 12 and has nine assists in 61 games.
Olivier also leads the league in fighting majors with 11 and ranks second in hits with more than 230.