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The two sides have been negotiating for months, but the Blue Jackets and Ryan Johansen's camp still aren't nearing an agreement on a contract extension.

As we get closer and closer to training camp - it opens in a little over two weeks - the chances of Johansen being extended before it begins continues to shrink. So much so, that Blue Jackets beat Aaron Portzline considers it highly unlikely a deal will be reached even with two-plus weeks to iron things out.

Via Portzline: "The two sides can't agree on much, it seems, except this: There is nothing new to report. Nada. Zip. Zilch...At this point, it seems highly unlikely Johansen will be on the ice at the start of training camp."

I'm on board with giving Johansen a short-term deal before committing to him as a franchise player to make sure he is what the team thinks he will be, but I think the Blue Jackets are being a little unfair.

Originally Johansen's camp wanted a long-term pact and big money deal. Now they're OK with a two-year deal, but they want to be compensated well. Johansen's camp has moved quite a bit from their original ask over the last couple months, and Jarmo Kekalainen hasn't budged one iota.

It's admirable that Kekalainen is standing his ground, but I think this is a deal that needs both sides to compromise in order to get done.

Obviously money is a factor, but I think there's sentimental value here for Johansen, too. He was perhaps the best player on the team in what was the best campaign the franchise has ever had, and the team will neither pay him what his production's worth or commit to him long-term.

Again, I can see not wanting to commit to a max-length contract just yet, but for a team that has so much cap space - over $14 million free with a full roster - being so opposed to giving out an extra chunk of cash in the short-term doesn't make much sense.

Every case is different, but Sergei Bobrovsky was in a similar boat with the team and they paid him upwards of $6 million per season on a two-year deal without near the fight.

If the team wants to maintain a good relationship with Johansen and get him signed before this becomes a bigger story than it already is, they'll have to do the same.

The fact they haven't already done so is somewhat puzzling.

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Columbus Blue Jackets 5 vs 5 Goals Data: Defense

Devils posts

On Tomas Kaberle

On the Devils inviting Scott Gomez to camp

Waiting On Gelinas

On the NHL's best forward/defense duos

On the NHL's best forward duos

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