After a pretty lengthy standstill in negotiations, there's finally been some movement from Ryan Johansen's camp that will move the two sides closer to an extension.
After requesting a four-year contract that would take Johansen to unrestricted free agency, Johansen has since moved from his demands. His camp has reportedly sent a two-year counter offer to Jarmo Kekalainen, according to Aaron Portzline.
Via Portzline: Johansen's agent, Kurt Overhardt, recently extended a second contract offer to the Blue Jackets, sources have told The Dispatch. It's a two-year contract, or a "bridge" deal -- the type Johansen called a "slap in the face" late last month.
Kekalainen has been pretty adamant about a bridge contract since Day 1, and it's hard to argue with his request.
As promising as Johansen looks after last year's breakout campaign, paying a player - regardless of potential - big money and dishing out long-term after one good season can be a risky play.
The Blue Jackets have financial flexibility moving forward, so should Johansen out perform his next contract, biting the bullet and handing out a lucrative deal shouldn't be an issue.
I speculated earlier this summer that Kekalainen might give Johansen a little more money than he'd like to cough up to get him signed, but that he wouldn't give Johansen anything other than a bridge deal.
We'll have to wait a little longer, but that appears to be the case.
Jackets posts
Devils posts
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Email: NHLToddCordell@Gmail.com