The Columbus Blue Jackets have locked in forward Jack Williams with a two‑year, two‑way contract that runs through the 2027‑28 season, a move that secures the 24‑year‑old’s rights while preserving flexibility between the NHL and AHL.
Williams, who burst onto the professional scene with the Cleveland Monsters, is praised for his skating ability, defensive reliability and the energy he brings to every shift, qualities that have made him a favorite of coaching staff and teammates alike.
During his rookie AHL campaign, he posted 15 goals and 23 assists for 38 points in 72 games, adding 14 penalty minutes, 146 shots on goal and six game‑winning tallies; his 14 game‑winning goals placed him seventh among all rookies in the league.
General manager Don Waddell highlighted the forward’s potential, noting that the extension rewards a player who has already shown he can thrive at the highest level after making his NHL debut against the New York Islanders on April 17, 2025.
Collegiate Foundations
Williams’ journey began at Northeastern University, where he captained the team in 2024‑25, earned a Hobey Baker Award nomination in 2023‑24 and logged 39 points in 106 career games, before turning pro and spending four seasons with the Muskegon Lumberjacks in the USHL.
A native of Biddeford, Maine, Williams grew up playing junior hockey in the United States Hockey League, where he amassed 45 goals and 71 assists over 165 games, laying the groundwork for a career that now looks poised for further growth within the Blue Jackets organization.