The Columbus Blue Jackets have signed defenseman Kris Russell to a three-year contract extension, General Manager Scott Howson announced Saturday. As is club policy, terms were not disclosed. Russell, 22, has registered four goals and 28 assists for 32 points and 42 penalty minutes in 137 career games with the Blue Jackets. He notched 2-19-21 and 28 penalty minutes in 66 games with Columbus last season. His point total ranked third among club defensemen and nearly doubled the output of his rookie season in 2008-09 when he collected 2-8-10 and 14 penalty minutes in 67 games. ?Kris is an important player for us, not only in the present, but in the future,? said Howson. ?We believe he has just scratched the surface of his potential.?