Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen has a big decision to make when it comes to Ryan Johansen and his next contract.
I recently touched on this and found some comparables based off Johansen's first three years in the NHL, but his situation is much different than the rest, as he struggled for the first two before becoming a borderline elite player in his third year. That makes his case a lot different than others who were NHL regulars and produced for their first three years, but never had a breakout season like Johansen did.
Blue Jackets beat writer Aaron Portzline chimed in on this with some tweets.
If you go three-year production arc, it isn't quite a fair reflection of what Johansen did this season. If you base this year and future ...
— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) May 9, 2014... it excuses the slow start to his career, and the fact that #CBJ still isn't ready to put down the crop for fear Johansen will stagnate.
— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) May 9, 2014I believe the Jackets should try to lock up Johansen long term, as I think he's the real deal and it'd save them more cap space down the road, but I could see why Kekalainen might hesitate, as Johansen's only had one real good season.
Portzline thinks Johansen will get a bridge contract, or a mid-term contract, and that the Jackets won't give him anywhere near a max-length contract.
If they go bridge contract, I'm pegging it @ 3 yrs, $15M and he's still RFA. If they go long-term, call it 5 yrs, $28M and eat one UFA year.
— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) May 9, 2014If Portzline's accurate - I'm betting he is - I think those are reasonable terms, but prefer the five-year deal as opposed to the three.
Will Kekalainen feel the same way?
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Sergei Bobrovsky posted a 27-save shutout in Russia's 5-0 win over Switzerland. Artem Anisimov was held off the scoresheet, but had four shots.
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