After the last negotiations between the Blue Jackets and Ryan Johansen's camp concluded and the sides remained far apart, they decided to break off contract talks for a while.
Now, well over a month later, the two sides are set to resume contract negotiations this week in Traverse City, according to Blue Jackets beat writer Aaron Portzline.
Via the Columbus Dispatch: "It has been six weeks since the Blue Jackets and center Ryan Johansen’s agent, Kurt Overhardt, have had contract negotiations, but that is expected to change this weekend.Blue Jackets management, along with most of the organization’s top prospects, are traveling on Thursday to the annual prospects tournament in Traverse City, Mich. Overhardt, will be there, too, starting Friday, and sources said the sides are expected to meet face to face for the first time."
Obviously just because they're going to meet face-to-face doesn't mean a deal will be reached, but it's not out of the realm of possibility.
Both sides want to get a deal done sooner than later, obviously, and the goal would be to get a deal done before training camp opens next Wednesday.
As of a few weeks ago the sides were rumored to be about $3 million apart per season, but if Columbus shows a willingness to move on the dollars and meet somewhere in the middle, I could see a deal being reached in relatively short order.
Hopefully for Blue Jackets fans that is the case, because if things sour this weekend the likelihood of Johansen remaining unsigned come October increases significantly.
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