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The Blue Jackets open training camp Thursday and, barring a miraculous turn of events, Ryan Johansen won't be there.

While the Blue Jackets have no hard feelings towards Johansen, they likely want to put his agent Kurt Overhardt into the team's cannon and launch him into the sky, as things seem to be getting personal.

On Monday GM Jarmo Kekalainen chimed in saying if Johansen isn't signed by camp he's not allowed near the facility and they'll move on without him. On Tuesday John Davidson had some stronger words for Overhardt.

Via TheHockeyNews: “It makes no sense, Davidson said. “When you see numbers that are thrown at us, we shouldn’t even respond. That’s how bad it is. It’s embarrassing. And if the kid sits out, he sits out. I wonder if the agent’s going to pay him his money back that he’s going to lose by sitting out.

“With the numbers they come back with…are so one-sided it’s nonsensical. It’s extortion is what it is. I don’t make this stuff up. I’ve been in this league doing this for a long time now and this one here, it’s baffling is what it is. This one’s baffling. Baffling.”

A clearly frustrated Davidson wasn't done there, though.

“If we ever caved to what (Overhardt) is demanding, we’ll all get fired,” Davidson said. “And I take it personal. I don’t understand it. I take it very personal. What’s he trying to do, get us fired? What’s he trying to do? I don’t understand what he’s trying to do.”

In case you've been living under a rock, the Blue Jackets believe a two-year, $7 million deal comparable to the one Matt Duchence signed out of his ELC is fair value, while Overhardt reportedly is pushing for $6.5 million per for Johansen.

I'm sure Johansen has no problem with Overhardt trying to get him compensated as much as possible, but I have a hard time believing Johansen is demanding these numbers.

My guess is Johansen's listening to Overhardt's advice and allowing him to handle it - that makes sense, it's his job - but it's all about the player and, at some point, Johansen's going to have to step in.

The Blue Jackets aren't remotely interested in caving on dollars to get a deal done, so I think the longer this goes on the worse things will get for Johansen; especially if this drags into the season.

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