Jackets busy in market

The Blue Jackets' No. 1 offseason priority -- re-signing captain Rick Nash -- might be on hold for now. But the team added two key players yesterday on the first day of NHL free agency, signing center Sami Pahlsson to a three-year, $7.95 million deal and goaltender Mathieu Garon to a two-year, $2.4 million deal. The signing of Pahlsson, considered one of the NHL's top checking-line centers, means Manny Malhotra's days with the Blue Jackets are over. "(Pahlsson) brings experience ... winning experience," general manager Scott Howson said. "He can play against the top players in the league. He'll probably play between 16 and 18 minutes a night and against all the top players in the league. "Our checking line is going to be strong. Whoever's on it, with Pahlsson in the middle, it's going to be a very strong line." Pahlsson, 31, won the Stanley Cup with Anaheim and was a Selke Trophy finalist (top defensive forward) during the 2006-07 season. In 65 games with Anaheim and Chicago last season, he had seven goals, 11 assists and 34 penalty minutes. He was home in Sweden yesterday and unavailable for comment. "It's exciting," Blue Jackets coach Ken Hitchcock said. "He can kill penalties. He does lots of things that can help a team win. Late in games, when we have the lead, he's going to be on the ice." Garon, 31, will give the Blue Jackets a reliable backup to Steve Mason, something they did not have most of last season. Howson said he expects Garon to play "20 to 25 games." "I know the situation, obviously," Garon said. "My job is to push (Mason). The more I push the kid, the more ice time I'll get." Garon was 8-9-0 with a 3.12 goals-against average and .894 save percentage in 19 games with Edmonton and Pittsburgh. "We all know Mason is the starter," Hitchcock said. "But players have to push each other to be great, and we think Mathieu can push Steve." Howson said the Blue Jackets are not in the market for another center, that the fourth-line player will have to come from within the organization -- perhaps Andrew Murray or Derek Dorsett. The primary focus remains on signing Nash to a contract extension, but Howson will also keep an eye open for trades, ideally to acquire a puck-moving defenseman. In another move, the Blue Jackets signed defenseman Brent Regner, a fifth-round pick (No. 137) in 2008, to an entry-level contract. aportzline@dispatch.com Box Story: Pahlsson file Age: 31 Pos.: Center Size: 6 feet, 204 pounds Shoots: Left Notable: Premiere checking-line center ... Won 2007 Stanley Cup with Anaheim ... Selke Award nominee in 2007 for best defensive forward ... Also has nine goals and 19 assists and 54 penalty minutes in 81 playoff games ... Won gold medal with Sweden at 2006 Winter Olympics SEASON TEAM GP G A +/- PIM \ \ 2000-01 Bos./Ana. 76 4 5 -14 20 \ 2001-02 Ana. 80 6 14 -16 26 \ 2002-03 Ana. 34 4 11 +10 18 \ 2003-04 Ana. 82 8 14 -2 52 \ 2005-06 Ana. 82 11 10 -1 34 \ 2006-07 Ana. 82 8 18 -4 42 \ 2007-08 Ana. 56 6 9 -2 34 \ 2008-09 Ana./Chi. 65 7 11 -17 34 \ Total 557 54 92 -46 260\ * * * * \ \ Garon file Age: 31 Pos.: Goalie Size: 6 feet 2, 192 pounds Catches: Right Notable: Traded to Pittsburgh in January and was backup goalie for Stanley Cup run ... Appeared in Game 5 of Finals after Marc-Andre Fleury allowed five goals to Detroit. Garon gave up no goals but Penguins still lost 5-0. SEASON TEAM RECORD GAA SV% \ 2000-01 Montreal 4-5-1 2.44 .897 \ 2001-02 Montreal 1-4-0 4.37 .871 \ 2002-03 Montreal 3-5-0 1.99 .940 \ 2003-04 Montreal 8-6-2 2.27 .921 \ 2005-06 Los Angeles *31-26-3 3.22 .894 \ 2006-07 Los Angeles 13-10-6 2.66 .907 \ 2007-08 Edmonton 26-18-1 2.66 .913 \ 2008-09 Edmonton 6-8-0 3.17 .895 \ Pittsburgh 2-1-0 2.91 .894 \ \ Total 94-83-3-10 2.84 .905 \ \ Note: Beginning with 2005-06 season, ties were abolished in NHL; third number represents overtime losses