The Columbus Blue Jackets locked down a big piece of their current and future plans Thursday, signing winger Cam Atkinson to a seven-year extension worth $40.25 million, according to The Athletic's Aaron Portzline.

Atkinson's current deal, which carries an annual average value of $3.5 million per year, expires at the end of this season, which would have made him an unrestricted free agent as of July 1, 2018.

With his new deal inked, Atkinson will now carry an AAV of $5.75 million, and is signed through the 2024-25 season.

Despite starting the year with only four goals and two assists, Atkinson is still a key piece of Columbus' core, and is coming off back-to-back 25-plus goal seasons.

Last campaign, the now-28-year-old registered his best season to date, notching 35 goals and 27 assists.

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