The Blue Jackets and Ryan Johansen's camp met in Traverse City as the prospect tournament got underway, and once again no progress was made.
The two sides have long been reported to be up to $3 million apart per season, and neither side seems willing to budge. As such, they're not exactly inching towards an extension.
Via Aaron Portzline: Blue Jackets assistant general manager Bill Zito, who has handled the Johansen negotiations from the start, met briefly with Overhardt on Friday. No progress was reported by either side. They will likely meet again before the tournament ends, though Kekalainen said he will get involved only when the sides get close.“We haven’t seen anything that’s worth having a discussion,… Kekalainen said.
Columbus feels Johansen has no leverage, while Johansen's camp is threatening a holdout - into the season if they have to - in order to get the money he's hoping for.
The good news for the Blue Jackets is Boone Jenner is a natural center and both Alex Wennberg and Marko Dano seem ready to contribute in the NHL if there's an opening, so they should be able to survive a Johansen holdout; at least in the short-term.
As I've said in the past, though, I don't think they can accomplish much this season if he isn't in the picture.
Portzline reported the two sides will meet again before the Traverse City tournament concludes, but this looks like something that could go down to the wire, and perhaps leak into the regular season.
Recent posts
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Email: NHLToddCordell@Gmail.com