Training camp opens in just over two weeks, and the Blue Jackets still haven't re-signed their best player Ryan Johansen.
Johansen's camp has stepped away from their demands of a long-term contract and settled on the two-year term, but a sizeable gap in dollars remains, and Johansen doesn't seem about to budge on his current demands.
Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen has gotten Johansen's camp to agree to the length he wants, but Kekalainen seems unwilling to budge on dollars. In mid-August it was reported that the two sides were around $3 million apart per season, and it doesn't appear they've bridged that gap. As such the two sides aren't exactly close to an extension.
#CBJ. Ryan Johansen. Nothing new to report. Enjoy the weekend.
— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) August 29, 2014Johansen's camp stated publicly that Johansen would be willing to miss the start of camp or holdout in hopes of landing a more favorable contract, and as we get closer to camp it seems as if they weren't bluffing.
One way or another, I don't think it'll do the Blue Jackets any good to wait and find out.
Jackets posts
Devils posts
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Email: NHLToddCordell@Gmail.com