Vyborny wants to stay in Columbus

Columbus Blue Jackets pending unrestricted free agent forward David Vyborny tells Aaron Portzline of The Columbus Dispatch that he would love to sign a long-term extension with the club.

“I want to be here as long as they’ll have me,” Vyborny said.

While Vyborny admits that there was a time when he wanted to play in his native Czech Republic, things have changed.

“Two years ago, I wanted to go back home so my kids could go to school there,” Vyborny said.

So, what made Vyborny change his mind?

“My wife,” he said, with a grin. “She really likes it here, the kids like it here, and they are in really good schools. The first language they will learn is English. But they can learn to speak Czech at home, from us.”

However, before initiating contract talks with Vyborny’s agent, Blue Jackets GM Scott Howson says he would like to take a couple of months to watch Vyborny play and see what kind of player he is.

The 32-year-old forward is in the final year of a two-year contract and will earn $2.2 million.