COLUMBUS, OHIO - The Columbus Blue Jackets have re-signed goaltender Marc Denis to a multi-year contract, club President and General Manager Doug MacLean announced today. As is club policy, terms were not disclosed.

Denis has appeared in 74 games with the Blue Jackets over the course of their first two seasons, posting a 15-44-9 record with a 3.17 goals-against average. In 2001-02 the Montreal, Quebec native notched a 9-24-5 mark with a 3.11 goals-against average and .899 save percentage. Denis' play in the first half of the season was stellar as he recorded a 6-9-3 record with a 2.66 goals-against average and .915 save percentage in 19 games.

"Marc has worked very hard the past two seasons to ready himself for the opportunity to be a no. 1 goaltender in the NHL," said MacLean. "We believe that he will rise to the challenge and develop into one of the top goaltenders in the game in the coming years."

The 24-year-old recorded the first-ever win at Nationwide Arena, as he made 32 saves in a 3-1 victory against the Washington Capitals on Oct. 27, 2000. Later that season, Denis was the first Blue Jackets player to receive NHL Player of the Week honors as he went 2-0-1 with a 1.58 goals-against average and .953 save percentage in three games from Dec. 4 - Dec. 10, 2000. In 2001-02, Denis registered his first shutout in a Blue Jackets uniform as he made 31 saves in a 2-0 victory against the New York Rangers on Jan. 16, 2002 at Nationwide Arena. He also posted career highs in games played and ties, while equaling a personal-best with nine wins.

Denis was acquired by the Blue Jackets on June 7, 2000 in a trade with the Colorado Avalanche for a second round pick in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft. He was the Avalanche's first pick, 25th overall, in the 1995 Entry Draft. Denis earned a gold medal for Team Canada at both the 1996 and 1997 World Junior Championships. In 1997, Denis posted a 5-0-2 record with a 1.86 goals-against average to earn Top Goaltender honors at the tournament. He spent most of his first two seasons with the Hershey Bears, Colorado's American Hockey League affiliate. As a rookie pro, he went 17-23-4 with a 2.90 goals-against average in 1997-98. The following season, he posted a 20-23-5 mark with a 2.83 goals-against average and four shutouts and won the I-Tech Goalie Award during the skills competition at the AHL All-Star Classic.

Individual game tickets for the preseason games at Nationwide Arena will go on sale on Saturday, July 20, at 10 a.m. while group tickets for preseason games are available now by calling (614) 246-PUCK (7825). Tickets to Blue Jackets regular season home games will go on sale Saturday, August 17, at the Nationwide Arena Ticket Office, the Chiller at Easton and the Chiller in Dublin and all Ticketmaster ticket centers, by phone at (614) 431-3600 or via the internet at www.BlueJackets.com and ticketmaster.com. For information on PSL season tickets or group tickets, call (614) 246-PUCK or (800) NHL-COLS.