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As the days continue to pass, it's becoming increasingly likely
Ryan Johansen won't report when the Blue Jackets open training camp.
Johansen's camp has been negotiating with Jarmo Kekalainen and company for several months now, and the only movement has been from Johansen stepping away from demands of a long-term deal.
I've been in the belief since Day 1 that Kekalainen would cave a little bit on money in the short-term if Johansen agreed to a two-year term, but it seems as though Kekalainen has no intention of compromising.
Blue Jackets beat writer Aaron Portzline suggests the team's old approach of giving young players big money deals and not panning out may have impacted their current line of thought.
A lot of teams are strapped financially because they're close to the cap, so an offer sheet at this point of the year seems highly unlikely.
In the event a team scrambled together some coin and was able to get Johansen to agree to an offer sheet, the Blue Jackets would happily match. They have over $14 million in cap space with a full roster signed and seem set financially moving forward, so they're not in any danger of being blindsided.
Neither camp seems willing to move from their current stance, so this could drag into camp and perhaps even the season. Should that happen, I think Columbus has the talent to withstand Johansen's absence in the short-term. That said, they definitely need him on their side if they're going to make any kind of noise when the playoffs roll around.
Jackets posts
Prospect notes on Markus Soberg, Oliver Bjorkstrand and more
On Johansen, Horton and shooting percentages
Sonny Milano, Blue Jackets haven't talked contract
Columbus Blue Jackets 5 vs 5 Goals Data: Forwards
Columbus Blue Jackets 5 vs 5 Goals Data: Defense
Devils posts
On Tomas Kaberle
On Scott Gomez
Waiting On Gelinas
On the NHL's best forward/defense duos
On the NHL's best forward duos
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