Blue Jackets sign Marchant

COLUMBUS, Ohio, July 3 (UPI) -- The Columbus Blue Jackets signed free agent center Todd Marchant to a multi-year contract Thursday.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The 29-year-old Marchant spent the past 10 years with the Edmonton Oilers after making his NHL debut with the New York Rangers during the 1993-94 campaign.

Marchant was the Oilers' second-leading scorer last season with 20 goals and 40 assists in 77 games. In 678 career games, he has registered 136 goals and 207 assists.

Regarded as one of the fastest skaters in the NHL, Marchant is dangerous as a penalty killer, having recorded 19 career shorthanded goals, including eight in the last three seasons.