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Columbus signs defenseman

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The Columbus Blue Jackets re-signed
defenseman Ole-Kristian Tollefsen and center Alexander Svitov to
two-year contracts on Monday and reached agreement with Sheldon
Brookbank, a defenseman from the Nashville Predators' minor league
system.

"Ole and Alexander are talented, young players who showed great
improvement over the course of last season and became very
difficult to play against," Blue Jackets general manager Scott
Howson said.

Tollefsen, a 23-year-old player from Norway who was Columbus'
third pick in the 2002 draft, had two goals and three assists in 70
games with the Blue Jackets in his first full season with the team.

The 24-year-old Svitov had seven goals and 11 assists in 76
games, setting career highs in goals, assists, points, penalty
minutes and games. The Russian was acquired from Tampa Bay in a
trade for defenseman Darryl Sydor.

Brookbank, 26, signed a one-year contract after scoring 15 goals
and adding 38 assists in 78 games with Milwaukee of the AHL last
season. He played three games with the Predators last season,
picking up his only NHL point with an assist against Pittsburgh on
Feb. 6.