As we inch closer and closer to training camp, the Blue Jackets and Ryan Johansen remain at a stalemate.
Johansen wants two years or four years, and to be compensated quite well during that span. On the other side of things, the Blue Jackets want two or three years (four takes him to UFA) and to pay him based off his overall body of work and not one season.
As such, while the sides have made progress on term over the summer, they're still far apart on dollars to the tune of $3 million. Per season.
Via Aaron Portzline:
- Johansen talks, as of late last week, had not progressed from the point at which Johansen's agent, Kurt Overhardt, extended a two-year offer toward the Blue Jackets. Overhardt and Johansen have two- and four-year contracts on the table, but forget about the four-year deal. No way the Blue Jackets are agreeing to that term. In fact, it's almost a bit of a nose-twist offer in the first place, as Johansen could be come an unrestricted free agent in four years. It will be a two-year deal, bank on it. At last check, the two sides appeared $3 million apart per season. That's a big gulf, but not too big to close. At this point, the calendar is the most effective form of leverage, and both sides will try to use it. Johansen's camp: "You want me at training camp, right? You don't want that distraction, do you?" The Blue Jackets: "You don't want to be the one guy missing from training camp do you? Do you want to be the big distraction?
That's an interesting take from Portzline, and I'm with him. If the two sides are three million apart per season, I'm assuming the Blue Jackets are offering a little over $3 million while Johansen probably wants $6 million per on a two-year deal.
Portzline speculates the two sides will meet halfway-ish when they ultimately reach an agreement.
-- If I were a Vegas bookie instead of a Columbus foodie, I'd set the over-under on Johansen's annual term at $5.25 million. So, two years, $10.5 million. Quite the bridge. You want the over or the under?
I've been speculating all summer that Jarmo Kekalainen would cave a little on dollars to get the term of the contract the way he wants it, and I think that'll be the end game.
Columbus has quite a bit of cap space, so the extra chunk of cash over the next two years isn't a big deal.
I think this is a last ditch effort from Johansen's camp to milk as much money as possible, and I believe he'll be signed before camp.
Jackets posts
Devils posts
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Email: NHLToddCordell@Gmail.com