The Columbus Blue Jackets have locked up former Michigan forward Kent Johnson for three more years.

The 2021 No. 5 overall pick, who was a restricted free agent, signed a three-year, $5.4 million contract on Saturday. His new deal will carry a cap hit of $1.8 million per year.

Columbus and Johnson, 21, opted for a bridge deal instead of a long-term contract. He will hold restricted free agent status after the 2026-27 season and will be two years away from unrestricted free agency.

The 6-foot, 178-pounder spent all of the 2022-23 season in the NHL, recording 16 goals and 24 assists in 79 games. But his ice time dropped a minute per game and his production dipped last year to six goals and 10 assists in 42 games. He also had a 10-game stint in the American Hockey League.

The Blue Jackets will be hoping the British Columbia native can take a step forward next year and fill a top-six role in their forward group. He was a dynamic offensive presence for the Wolverines during his two seasons, registering 64 points (17 goals) in 58 games.

“Kent Johnson is an exciting young player with tremendous upside, and we are happy that he will continue to grow and develop as a Blue Jacket,” Columbus general manager Don Waddell said in a statement. “He is just beginning to scratch the surface of what he can be as a player, and we believe he will be a very important part of our hockey club moving forward.”

Johnson was a part of the historic 2021 NHL draft for the Wolverines, who produced four of the top five picks. The other three – defenseman Owen Power (No. 1, Buffalo Sabres), forward Matty Beniers (No. 2, Seattle Kraken) and defenseman Luke Hughes (No. 4, New Jersey Devils) – each spent all of last season in the NHL.