‘It was super respectful throughout’: Jet Greaves discusses pre-arbitration process with Blue Jackets

A little more than a week ago, Jet Greaves and the Columbus Blue Jackets were able to avoid arbitration and agree to terms on a three-year, $15-million contract that would pay the goaltender an average annual value of $5 million through the 2028-29 season.

The deal came just hours before an arbitration hearing was set to take place between the two sides, with earlier reports suggesting there was a nearly $5-million salary gap in negotiations.

On Thursday’s episode of The Sheet, host Jeff Marek spoke with Greaves to discuss the negotiation process and what went through his mind as the two sides inched closer to an in-person hearing.

Jeff Marek: The night before you almost getting into the room for arbitration, what was going through your mind? Were you preparing like, “OK, I might hear some really awful things tomorrow”? What’s that sleep like?

Jet Greaves: It is such a unique situation, really. There’s nothing that I can really compare it to … where you know in the next 24 to 48 hours, everything is going to be sorted out, but just not knowing at all, really, how it’s going to play out.

It’s super unique, but I was fortunate throughout all this process, just to have really supportive people around me that have helped to keep me grounded, and to keep my perspective in the right place.

I was grateful (with) the way the negotiations went with our team. It was super respectful throughout, even as we got close to the hearing. Everything from the Blue Jackets’ side, I felt like it was positive on both sides. I don’t think there was any strain on the relationship from either side at all.

You can watch the full interview and the rest of the episode here…