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Columbus Will Get Johansen Signed.....No Worries; Monday's Webcast

August 4, 2014, 12:20 PM ET [40 Comments]
Eklund
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There are reports out there that Johansen and the Jackets are far apart right now. And they are. But there is no arbitration deadline and no real need for Jackets fans to be worried. This is a Blue Jackets team who has shown a tendency to NOT jump hard until they are 100% certain.

Think back to this time last year. Sergei Bobrovsky was coming off an incredible, lock-out shortened season. A season he was dominant in. A season he won the Vezina trophy in. He was also just one year removed from big time struggles in Philly that landed him in the KHL.

So was rumors swirled of Bob getting a huge ten million dollar deal in the KHL, the Jackets signed him to only a two year deal for under 6 per. He will be an RFA after this season.

Now contrast Ryan Johansen. It may be hard to remember but Johansen was often criticized two years ago and when he was sent back to the AHL for the team's playoff run in April of 2013 where he was a -8 with only 1 point in 5 playoff games in the AHL. He was actually scratched in the game that his team, Springfield, was eliminated by Syracuse.

That was only 15 months ago.

To be fair Johansen showed up last year in a HUGE way. He is now an NHL Star and the face of the Blue Jackets to be certain. He will make a ton of money and have a highly successful NHL career...I have no doubt.

But this is not a PK Subban moment for Columbus. This is a player still 4 years away from UFA status. There is no reason to throw an 8 year deal at this kid. Any 8 year deal at this point that would be acceptable by Columbus would rightly be insulting to Johansen.

This is why bridge deals exist. This deal has two year/10M all over it. Who knows how they land there....and we might still have some games left to play in the PR/Drama dept...but no worries.




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