Todd Cordell: Dropping The Hammer

They won't have to worry about playoff performance if they don't sign him.

They won't have to worry about playoff performance if they don't sign him.
- Aetherial

Teams like Columbus always baffle me when it comes to stuff like this.

You pay a ton of money to Nathan Horton to come via free agency. You do the same for James Wisniewski, a few years back. You take on Scott Hartnell's extra two years of his contract, though you did drop R.J. Umberger from the roster while doing so.

But Johansen is pretty clearly the best forward on the roster, and second or third in importance on the entire team.

Yet, because he's younger, you don't want to pay him.

I just don't get that. No, you don't HAVE to pay him. But if you don't pay him, he holds out for a month and you miss the playoffs by two points, was it really worth it?

wow

Teams like Columbus always baffle me when it comes to stuff like this.

You pay a ton of money to Nathan Horton to come via free agency. You do the same for James Wisniewski, a few years back. You take on Scott Hartnell's extra two years of his contract, though you did drop R.J. Umberger from the roster while doing so.

But Johansen is pretty clearly the best forward on the roster, and second or third in importance on the entire team.

Yet, because he's younger, you don't want to pay him.

I just don't get that. No, you don't HAVE to pay him. But if you don't pay him, he holds out for a month and you miss the playoffs by two points, was it really worth it?
- AllInForFlyers

Agree, Agree, & Agree!!!

They will piss him off enough, where he will no longer want to play here.
And after losing so many other young top players, this makes no sense.
Why not just offer him a 1 year $6 million bridge deal?
It's not like that will break the budget, (being so far under the cap), and if he proves he's worth it, pay him what other players his level would get.
This is not a playoff team without him, and taking a chance on missing out on playoff revenue because of this is ridiculous.

His shooting % is semi fluky, but based on what other plays are receiving (Amac, Bolland, etc) the kid definitely deserves at least $4.5 per for two years.

Agree, Agree, & Agree!!!

They will piss him off enough, where he will no longer want to play here.
And after losing so many other young top players, this makes no sense.
Why not just offer him a 1 year $6 million bridge deal?
It's not like that will break the budget, (being so far under the cap), and if he proves he's worth it, pay him what other players his level would get.
This is not a playoff team without him, and taking a chance on missing out on playoff revenue because of this is ridiculous.
- puckhead17

Habs did this with Subban, it worked out well for them.

Habs did this with Subban, it worked out well for them.
- FinAddict

Yeah, because the booming hockey mecca of Columbus Ohio, is the same as Montreal!

Seriously?
You compare these 2 cities, players, & fan base?

Teams like Columbus always baffle me when it comes to stuff like this.

You pay a ton of money to Nathan Horton to come via free agency. You do the same for James Wisniewski, a few years back. You take on Scott Hartnell's extra two years of his contract, though you did drop R.J. Umberger from the roster while doing so.

But Johansen is pretty clearly the best forward on the roster, and second or third in importance on the entire team.

Yet, because he's younger, you don't want to pay him.

I just don't get that. No, you don't HAVE to pay him. But if you don't pay him, he holds out for a month and you miss the playoffs by two points, was it really worth it?
- AllInForFlyers

For one, his agent has a history and a pattern of his guys holding out of camp, this isn't the first or the last. With these young guys my guess is the agent is all in their head. When players get older the understand the process better. Also, if all the agent is saying is 7 over and over why should Jarmo say anything different.

Secondly, how is this that different than Stepan last summer. On a ppg basis he was better then RJ going into a contract negotiation and was better over the previous three years. So what did he get? $2.3 and $3.8. How do think it would go in the locker room if they gave him $6 million for one good year?

Jarmo is playing this right. You can't kiss the ass of your star players. We've played that game and it doesn't work.

Teams like Columbus always baffle me when it comes to stuff like this.

You pay a ton of money to Nathan Horton to come via free agency. You do the same for James Wisniewski, a few years back. You take on Scott Hartnell's extra two years of his contract, though you did drop R.J. Umberger from the roster while doing so.

But Johansen is pretty clearly the best forward on the roster, and second or third in importance on the entire team.

Yet, because he's younger, you don't want to pay him.

I just don't get that. No, you don't HAVE to pay him. But if you don't pay him, he holds out for a month and you miss the playoffs by two points, was it really worth it?
- AllInForFlyers

So you would fork over 6 mil to a player that had one good season....typical flyer management thinking there.

And you speak as if we overpaid for some players when you guys have the likes of AMac,Lecvalier and Streit.

Jarmo knows what he's getting in Horton and Hartnell, the same cannot be said about Johanson because HE HAD ONE GOOD YEAR, besides in past this organization gave out some doubtfull contracts to some young players who still had a lot to prove,Nash included, and it backfired miserable, so yeah for once we have a gm willing to do it the way it's supposed to be done and not the small market full retard approach.

So you would fork over 6 mil to a player that had one good season....typical flyer management thinking there.

And you speak as if we overpaid for some players when you guys have the likes of AMac,Lecvalier and Streit.

Jarmo knows what he's getting in Horton and Hartnell, the same cannot be said about Johanson because HE HAD ONE GOOD YEAR, besides in past this organization gave out some doubtfull contracts to some young players who still had a lot to prove,Nash included, and it backfired miserable, so yeah for once we have a gm willing to do it the way it's supposed to be done and not the small market full retard approach.
- Alexzanki

to be fair he had a great year. Nathan Horton is making 5.3 per and he has never equaled the goals or points RJ got last year.

I'd just give him the 6 million long term deal that guys like duchene, ROR, Hall, RNH and Eberle got. If they sign him to a 2 year bridge for say 3.5-4 per, he is gonna want 7.5-8 if he continues playing well

For one, his agent has a history and a pattern of his guys holding out of camp, this isn't the first or the last. With these young guys my guess is the agent is all in their head. When players get older the understand the process better. Also, if all the agent is saying is 7 over and over why should Jarmo say anything different.

Secondly, how is this that different than Stepan last summer. On a ppg basis he was better then RJ going into a contract negotiation and was better over the previous three years. So what did he get? $2.3 and $3.8. How do think it would go in the locker room if they gave him $6 million for one good year?

Jarmo is playing this right. You can't kiss the ass of your star players. We've played that game and it doesn't work.
- bjacket

He is clearly their BEST forward! (thats why)
The Rag's had no cap room, Stepan, (like Zuccarello), had no choice to take $3.5 million, where was his extra $$$ coming from? They were capped out paying $17 million combined to Nash & King Henrick.

Jarmo has a tough sell playing this game with all that cap space, Johansen is his best forward, he has tons of cap space, thats why his agent is playing this, (and you try thinking differently if you were him, when scrubs are getting at least $4 million thrown at them in this league).

Here's another question, why are they lowballing his 2 year bridge offer, compared to what Bobrovsky received????

So you would fork over 6 mil to a player that had one good season....typical flyer management thinking there.

And you speak as if we overpaid for some players when you guys have the likes of AMac,Lecvalier and Streit.

Jarmo knows what he's getting in Horton and Hartnell, the same cannot be said about Johanson because HE HAD ONE GOOD YEAR, besides in past this organization gave out some doubtfull contracts to some young players who still had a lot to prove,Nash included, and it backfired miserable, so yeah for once we have a gm willing to do it the way it's supposed to be done and not the small market full retard approach.
- Alexzanki

Streit played very well for us in the 2nd half, AMac, (for god Effin sake), made whipping boy Luke Schenn a better, more confidant player, just playing with him, (christ, am I the only guy watching the games?)
Vinny, yeah, u got that, take Jarmo's side, and watch your playoff chances dwindle.

to be fair he had a great year. Nathan Horton is making 5.3 per and he has never equaled the goals or points RJ got last year.

I'd just give him the 6 million long term deal that guys like duchene, ROR, Hall, RNH and Eberle got. If they sign him to a 2 year bridge for say 3.5-4 per, he is gonna want 7.5-8 if he continues playing well
- GardinerExpress

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!

Thank u!!!!

Here's the head scratching, if he plays, they have a better chance at the playoffs, which in turn generates revenue for the damn team, are they a playoff team without him? Then you make money.
I don't think so.

So you would fork over 6 mil to a player that had one good season....typical flyer management thinking there.

And you speak as if we overpaid for some players when you guys have the likes of AMac,Lecvalier and Streit.

Jarmo knows what he's getting in Horton and Hartnell, the same cannot be said about Johanson because HE HAD ONE GOOD YEAR, besides in past this organization gave out some doubtfull contracts to some young players who still had a lot to prove,Nash included, and it backfired miserable, so yeah for once we have a gm willing to do it the way it's supposed to be done and not the small market full retard approach.
- Alexzanki

It's always funny how people take a shot at "typical Flyers management," when the Flyers have made the playoffs 18 times in the last 20 years, with two appearances in the Cup finals.

Until the Flyers go into some kind of sustained stretch where they don't make the playoffs -- and those last two times they missed, they made the playoffs the following season -- is it really legitimate to use the phrase "typical Flyers management" like it's a bad thing?

Again: I have no control over what the Flyers or Blue Jackets do. And to be honest, I actually hope Johansen doesn't come in -- helps the Flyers if one more team isn't at full strength.

to be fair he had a great year. Nathan Horton is making 5.3 per and he has never equaled the goals or points RJ got last year.

I'd just give him the 6 million long term deal that guys like duchene, ROR, Hall, RNH and Eberle got. If they sign him to a 2 year bridge for say 3.5-4 per, he is gonna want 7.5-8 if he continues playing well
- GardinerExpress

Right that is why Horton will earn 5.3 for the rest of his tenure, and if Johanson is who he and his agemt says he his then he will be making wayyyyy more then what Horton is earning after his bridge contract....it's fair really then yes he will be worth the 7.5-8 mil investment like you said.

A decent bridge deal is what's called for here. It's never a good thing when a player misses part or all of camp; worse if they miss regular season games. Odds are Ryan continues to progress, so a little compromise here would serve both sides well.

Yeah, because the booming hockey mecca of Columbus Ohio, is the same as Montreal!

Seriously?
You compare these 2 cities, players, & fan base?
- puckhead17

What? 2 young stars who want the sun and the moon and a management team that wants to make them earn it with a bridge deal. I compared the players for sure

Never compared the cities or fan bases

Habs did this with Subban, it worked out well for them.
- FinAddict

Yeah worked out really well since they have to pay Subban way more than if they had given him his 4 or 5 million on a long term deal instead of forcing him into a bridge deal. Jackets have all the power right now but play hardball and if/when he gets the power the next time you can be sure him and his agent will have no problem bending the team over.


With some players it's sometimes better to pay a little more now than he is worth so that later on that same player and contract is a great deal. Johansen seems like the type worth the risk especially given what he means to the team moving forward. I think teams are going too nuts with these bridge deals nowadays.

Teams like Columbus always baffle me when it comes to stuff like this.

You pay a ton of money to Nathan Horton to come via free agency. You do the same for James Wisniewski, a few years back. You take on Scott Hartnell's extra two years of his contract, though you did drop R.J. Umberger from the roster while doing so.

But Johansen is pretty clearly the best forward on the roster, and second or third in importance on the entire team.

Yet, because he's younger, you don't want to pay him.

I just don't get that. No, you don't HAVE to pay him. But if you don't pay him, he

holds out for a month and you miss the playoffs by two points, was it really worth it?
- AllInForFlyers

I totally agree, spending all the foolish money on those mentioned and two bitting a young superstar. Does not make any sense to me. Pay the bums and lesser players millions and try to get the superstar to play for peanuts, lol.

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!

Thank u!!!!

Here's the head scratching, if he plays, they have a better chance at the playoffs, which in turn generates revenue for the damn team, are they a playoff team without him? Then you make money.
I don't think so.
- puckhead17

My sentiments exactly

Yeah worked out really well since they have to pay Subban way more than if they had given him his 4 or 5 million on a long term deal instead of forcing him into a bridge deal. Jackets have all the power right now but play hardball and if/when he gets the power the next time you can be sure him and his agent will have no problem bending the team over.


With some players it's sometimes better to pay a little more now than he is worth so that later on that same player and contract is a great deal. Johansen seems like the type worth the risk especially given what he means to the team moving forward. I think teams are going too nuts with these bridge deals nowadays.
- dcz28

Subban wanted a 5-6 year deal at 5 per, so the habs saved a few million the last 2 seasons. unfortunately, they will be paying an extra 4 mil per for the next 3-4 years because of it.

with the way salaries are going, i'd get RJ locked up.

Bolland got 5.5 per, his career high is 47 points
Brassard got 5 per, his career high is 47 points
Pouliot got 4 per, his career high is 36 points.
Lets not forget about clarkson either

Its crazy that these guys are 3rd liners on most teams, but all raking in huge money

Teams like Columbus always baffle me when it comes to stuff like this.

You pay a ton of money to Nathan Horton to come via free agency. You do the same for James Wisniewski, a few years back. You take on Scott Hartnell's extra two years of his contract, though you did drop R.J. Umberger from the roster while doing so.

But Johansen is pretty clearly the best forward on the roster, and second or third in importance on the entire team.

Yet, because he's younger, you don't want to pay him.

I just don't get that. No, you don't HAVE to pay him. But if you don't pay him, he holds out for a month and you miss the playoffs by two points, was it really worth it?
- AllInForFlyers

This type of mentality is why you guys have those albatross amac and streit contracts on the books.

Jarmo is doing his job and you armchair GMs are ready to hand johansen a blank check

Comical. Everybody here ripping CBJ for not giving johansen anything he wants are the same people calling ROR a selfish overpaid douche. ROR > johansen and is getting paid less than what johansen wants. If Jarmo caves and johansen regresses a bit everyone here ripping on jarmo now will be calling him an idiot for signing him for so long and so much money

This type of mentality is why you guys have those albatross amac and streit contracts on the books.

Jarmo is doing his job and you armchair GMs are ready to hand johansen a blank check

Comical. Everybody here ripping CBJ for not giving johansen anything he wants are the same people calling ROR a selfish overpaid douche. ROR > johansen and is getting paid less than what johansen wants. If Jarmo caves and johansen regresses a bit everyone here ripping on jarmo now will be calling him an idiot for signing him for so long and so much money
- rangerdanger94

Shipping Carter and Richards then overpaying Bryz, need I say more.

Edit : Yeah sometime the level of hypocrisy is baffling.

This type of mentality is why you guys have those albatross amac and streit contracts on the books.

Jarmo is doing his job and you armchair GMs are ready to hand johansen a blank check

Comical. Everybody here ripping CBJ for not giving johansen anything he wants are the same people calling ROR a selfish overpaid douche. ROR > johansen and is getting paid less than what johansen wants. If Jarmo caves and johansen regresses a bit everyone here ripping on jarmo now will be calling him an idiot for signing him for so long and so much money
- rangerdanger94

thoughts on Brassards $25 million contract? In what world does RJ deserve 1/2 of what Brassard makes?