TSN's Darren Dreger recently reported that the Columbus Blue Jackets are very much open to trading Ryan Johansen.
Dreger on TSN Radio "I believe 100% Jarmo Kekainnen would want to trade Ryan Johansen. No doubt about it"
— Hope_Smoke (@Hope_Smoke) December 16, 2015In this edition of the hotstove we discuss whether moving him is a good idea for the Jackets.
Todd Cordell
The Jackets don't seem to be as happy with Johansen as they should be but I absolutely would not trade him.
Since the beginning of the 2013-14 season Johansen has 65 goals and 156 points in 195 games as a 21, 22 and now 23 year-old. That's 27 goals and 66 points per 82 games.
There aren't many players in the NHL who can put up those kind of numbers; especially at his age.
More often than not the team that parts with the best player in a trade loses the deal and I very much doubt the Jackets would be able to get their hands on a player better than Johansen.
Johansen is already a high-end point producer and his best days are probably still ahead of him. He's a guy I'd be looking to build around, not trade.
Jason Lewis I'd do it.
He's a 23-year old center who has all the talent in the world. The return, even with perceived "character" issues would be immense. On top of this bout with Torts, there was the hold out situation last year which did not look very favorable from his end. The relationship is, to me at least, starting to border on toxic and distracting. Columbus is struggling in the standings so it's not like you're trading a core piece of a winning team either. If I'm Kek, I'm at least listening and considering serious offers.
Pete Tessier
If the Blue Jackets want to trade Johansen they better be sure they are committed to Torts or know what kind of player he wants. Ryan Johansen puts up good numbers on a mediocre team while being the kind of player GMs salivate over.
There may be a difference of opinion, or more between him and Torts but Jarmo would be well-served trying to fix that first before picking up the phone. The potential return could be huge but if it's not in alignment with your coach's philosophy trading Johansen will not be the only major move that has to or will be made.
James Tanner
I have long said Johnson is an overrated player. He is a good player, but people act like he's Ryan Getzlaf and I don't think he has proved that yet. Should they trade him? Probably not.
1) He's 6'4 200 , plays centre and is talented. That's hard to come by.
2) He's been benched and scratched, so I doubt you're going to get as much for him as you can when he turns it around.
And, if he doesn't turn it around, then I guess its a moot point. I would say that if they are unhappy with him and want to move him, fine. But trading players at their lowest possible value is just dumb.
Nothing you do is getting you into the Playoffs this year, so maybe revisit that in the summer.
John Jaeckel No.
Seems like a classic case of trade the player or trade the coach. So think about it. John Tortorella, who's sort of a modern day Mike Keenan in that he's great to come in and jumpstart an underachieving team, but has the shelf life of sushi left at room temperature, is not only clashing with Johansen, but has at times banished Brandon Saad to the fourth line.
Being an NHL coach (or GM), in the era of players paid $5 million a year before they've won squat, is a tough job.
But for a team like the Jackets, I think it comes down to acknowledging that while Tortorella probably isn't wrong in this instance—Johansen likely does need to grow up a bit and work harder—ultimately Tortorella might be more replaceable. Saad and Johansen are highly skilled players, the kind that doesn't grow on trees.
Or in other words, the Jackets just need to go through this. Let Tortorella do his job, support him, but don't knee-jerk either on trading away one of the few quality forwards they have.
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