Columbus, Oh --- The Columbus Blue Jackets have signed defenseman André Benoît to a one-year, two-way NHL/American Hockey League contract through the 2017-18 season, club General Manager Jarmo Kekalainen announced today. As is club policy, terms were not disclosed.

Benoit, 33, has registered 11 goals and 37 assists for 48 points with 60 penalty minutes in 181 career NHL games with the Ottawa Senators, Colorado Avalanche, Buffalo Sabres and St. Louis Blues from 2010-16. He tallied NHL career highs with 7-21-28, 26 penalty minutes and was +2 with Colorado in 2013-14.

The St. Albert, Ontario native has collected 51-155-206, 271 penalty minutes and a +23 plus/minus rating in 391 career AHL games with the Hamilton Bulldogs, Binghamton Senators and Chicago Wolves. He is a two-time Calder Cup champion (2007, 2011) and has posted 8-37-45 in 64 career AHL playoff games. Benoit notched 3-15-18 in 23 games with Binghamton during the 2011 Calder Cup championship run, finishing tied for the AHL lead in postseason assists and leading defensemen in goals (tied) and points. In his most recent AHL campaign in 2015-16, he notched 8-25-33 and 26 penalty minutes in 72 games with the Wolves.

The 5'11, 192-pound defenseman has also skated in the top professional leagues in Finland, Sweden and Russia. In 2016-17, Benoit notched 6-18-24 and 22 penalty minutes in 52 regular season games and added 0-2-2 in 13 playoff contests with the Malmö Redhawks of the Swedish Hockey League. Originally signed as a free agent by the Montreal Canadiens on January 9, 2006, Benoit tallied 99-200-299 and 330 penalty minutes in 324 career Ontario Hockey League games with the Kitchener Rangers from 2000-05.