Ryan Johansen

[EspenK]

As has been said repeatedly this whole thing comes down to:

1)the organization not wanting to give a guy they think needs constant motivation the security of a long term deal at a substantial sum.

2)they want to be able to get something in return for him if they can't re-sign him in 2-3 years. They don't want to get into a UFA bidding war where Joey has complete control of the outcome.

(Porky Pig voice) That's all folks.

 

[Hello Johnny]

Leafs fan on the mains suggests that the Leafs 2015 first currently holds more value than Johansen and says that Kadri+Gauthier would "probably get it done" in a trade for Joey.

Guys I think this is a great deal. If anyone knows what they're talking about when it comes to hockey, it's a Leafs fan on the internet. We should take this and run!

 

[Nordique]

John Davidson, March 2014: I don't think this kid (Johansen) realizes just how good he is.

John Davidson, July 2014: Just who does this kid (Johandsen) think he is?


Hillarious, just get the deal done already Jarmo.

 

[CalBuckeyeRob]

As long as you are buying him out of at least 1 UFA year, I am not sure why you don't just commit the long haul money now. He is not going to suddenly become mediocre like many goalies have done. Forwards that demonstrate that level of skill a that age are keepers. The cap is going to go up and so are salaries so waiting will just increase the price.

 

[Double-Shift Lasse]

As long as you are buying him out of at least 1 UFA year, I am not sure why you don't just commit the long haul money now. He is not going to suddenly become mediocre like many goalies have done. Forwards that demonstrate that level of skill a that age are keepers. The cap is going to go up and so are salaries so waiting will just increase the price.

This. Either bridge or max him out in term.

 

[Nordique]

As long as you are buying him out of at least 1 UFA year, I am not sure why you don't just commit the long haul money now. He is not going to suddenly become mediocre like many goalies have done. Forwards that demonstrate that level of skill a that age are keepers. The cap is going to go up and so are salaries so waiting will just increase the price.

This is my thought exactly. Give him the money the market dictates, and stop pretending we can afford not to sign him.

 

[lionshockey43]

I've heard Johansen referred to as the next face of this franchise, so I thought I'd go back to see what the last face of the franchise made. After his entry level deal, Rick Nash signed a 5 year, 27 million dollar contract. A 5.4 million dollar cap hit. This seems to be the perfect range for Johansen to be in. It rewards him for his performance last season, but the Jackets pay for his first season of potential unrestricted free agency. So in the end, I wouldn't be shocked to see a 5 year deal in the 24-28 million dollar range.

He also was a number one pick and had 2 40 point seasons and won the Rocket Richard on a piss poor team, not to mention no salary cap back then either. I don't think you can compare the two situations....yet.

 

[lionshockey43]

John Davidson, March 2014: I don't think this kid (Johansen) realizes just how good he is.

John Davidson, July 2014: Just who does this kid (Johandsen) think he is?


Hillarious, just get the deal done already Jarmo.

It's not that they don't think hes good, its that they want him to prove it.

I guess we should just give him what he wants and throw standard business dealings out the window

We don't even know what JK offered

 

[Crede777]

I'm not upset about Johansen wanting longer term. I'd be upset if he specifically wanted 4 years (not 3 or 5).

That would be a clear indication that he has no real desire to play for the city of Columbus and wants to leave as soon as possible.

For the record, I think it being a contract year was a major reason for Johansen's improved play and agree that he needs constant motivation or incentive. However, we're not in much of a place to negotiate. The team would have a lot more leverage if Johansen were playing 2nd fiddle to an established, veteran like most 21 year old players in the league. Take the Blues for example. I'm sure Schwartz will get a nice new contract, but the team has leverage because of players like Backes being "the guy" on the roster instead.

 

[punk_o_holic]

I'm not upset about Johansen wanting longer term. I'd be upset if he specifically wanted 4 years (not 3 or 5).

That would be a clear indication that he has no real desire to play for the city of Columbus and wants to leave as soon as possible.

So would you trade him now for a nice return, trade him in his 4th year at the trade deadline(hope that he is still a stud so teams would want to add him for their Cup run), or if Columbus is still in the playoff race, keep him for their Cup run and let him walk as a UFA and get nothing in return?

If he truly wants to stay in Columbus like he says he does, whats wrong with a bridge deal? I'm sure he will still get $5 to $6 million/season for two years. If your confident that you will continue to improve, with the cap most likely going higher each year, he will be able to get more money per year on his next contract compared to what he would maybe get if he signs a long term contract right now. Unless he wants to long term now, just in case he suffers an injury and wants the guaranteed money.

 

[Crede777]

So would you trade him now for a nice return, trade him in his 4th year at the trade deadline(hope that he is still a stud so teams would want to add him for their Cup run), or if Columbus is still in the playoff race, keep him for their Cup run and let him walk as a UFA and get nothing in return?

I'd keep him and constantly be trying to re-sign him. If he leaves in the end, he leaves, but he's (at this moment) much too important to give up during the season.

Moving him would be like moving Bobrovsky. Yeah, you don't want to lose him for nothing, but right now there's no one else and doing so would completely cripple the team. Can't do that in the midst of a (presumably) playoff season.

 

[pete goegan]

I'm not upset about Johansen wanting longer term. I'd be upset if he specifically wanted 4 years (not 3 or 5).

That would be a clear indication that he has no real desire to play for the city of Columbus and wants to leave as soon as possible....

...Either bridge or max him out in term.

The choices DSL proposes seem to me to be the team's alternatives, with a preference for the bridge. What Crede describes seems to be The Johansen Team position, without the "get out of town fast" element to be necessarily true. They are negotiating positions, I fully expect them to reach an amicable solution, but I'm certain it will not include a four year contract. JD and Jarmo will not allow Ryan the chance to be a UFA at the end of his next contract.

 

[CalBuckeyeRob]

I'm not upset about Johansen wanting longer term. I'd be upset if he specifically wanted 4 years (not 3 or 5).

That would be a clear indication that he has no real desire to play for the city of Columbus and wants to leave as soon as possible.

For the record, I think it being a contract year was a major reason for Johansen's improved play and agree that he needs constant motivation or incentive. However, we're not in much of a place to negotiate. The team would have a lot more leverage if Johansen were playing 2nd fiddle to an established, veteran like most 21 year old players in the league. Take the Blues for example. I'm sure Schwartz will get a nice new contract, but the team has leverage because of players like Backes being "the guy" on the roster instead.

I think you are trying to find a connection where none exists since it suggests at age 19 and 20 he lacked incentive to do what he did in 2014. Special players at Johansen's age have a quick career improvement slope. It takes a couple of years to take those glimpses of big time ability and turn them into consistent performance. At the end of 2013 he showed signs of being a big time player but it took one more year to bring it regularly. That is not the description of a guy playing for a contract. That is a description of almost every young star in the league.

 

[punk_o_holic]

I'd keep him and constantly be trying to re-sign him. If he leaves in the end, he leaves, but he's (at this moment) much too important to give up during the season.

Moving him would be like moving Bobrovsky. Yeah, you don't want to lose him for nothing, but right now there's no one else and doing so would completely cripple the team. Can't do that in the midst of a (presumably) playoff season.

And I guess you have to hope by years 3 and 4, Columbus becomes an East Contender and potentially Cup contenders which might give him a second thought about leaving.

 

[EspenK]

The choices DSL proposes seem to me to be the team's alternatives, with a preference for the bridge. What Crede describes seems to be The Johansen Team position, without the "get out of town fast" element to be necessarily true. They are negotiating positions, I fully expect them to reach an amicable solution, but I'm certain it will not include a four year contract. JD and Jarmo will not allow Ryan the chance to be a UFA at the end of his next contract.

If it is 4 years. So I agree that 2 or 3 year bridge or 7(8?) years are probably the alternatives.

 

[pete goegan]

If it is 4 years. So I agree that 2 or 3 year bridge or 7(8?) years are probably the alternatives.

That's how I see it, too, EK. Those are the options from the Jackets perspective, with the bridge being the first choice. I could see, though, the longer alternative if the amount is reasonable. From Ryan's perspective, the only other option is to sign an offer sheet. That, I'm afraid, would truly poison the well! Personally, I don't think it'll get that far.

 

[Crede777]

Ottawa just moved Spezza and opened up a lot of cap space. Long shot, but think they go after Johansen either via offersheet or trade?

 

[NotWendell]

Ottawa just moved Spezza and opened up a lot of cap space. Long shot, but think they go after Johansen either via offersheet or trade?

Worry not, my friend. I see that as a very unlikely scenario for multiple reasons.

 

[Nordique]

It's not that they don't think hes good, its that they want him to prove it.

I guess we should just give him what he wants and throw standard business dealings out the window

We don't even know what JK offered

You don't need to defend the front office to me, I understand exactly how these things go.

They pumped him up to the media and to us, to help generate buzz in the Spring. Now its contract time and you downplay all that hype you previous were creating. I don't mean to be critical, this is business, its just ironic and worth noting the mixed message you get depending on the audience and backdrop (playoff push vs contract negotiations).

 

[KJ Dangler]

John Davidson, March 2014: I don't think this kid (Johansen) realizes just how good he is.

John Davidson, July 2014: Just who does this kid (Johandsen) think he is?


Hillarious, just get the deal done already Jarmo.

Why the panic ? Yes Davidson has said that Johan doesnt realize how good he can be, but he also had 2 pretty poor seasons prior to this one, where he was scratched from the ahl playoffs. Management sits in the drivers seat, Johan may want to just consider his last season, while management looks at his body of work, and noted motivational issues. No way I would give johansen a long term deal, when we stood firm with Bob, who came off one magical season. And it would be a slap in the face to him, to do differently for Johansen.

 

[Double-Shift Lasse]

That's how I see it, too, EK. Those are the options from the Jackets perspective, with the bridge being the first choice. I could see, though, the longer alternative if the amount is reasonable. From Ryan's perspective, the only other option is to sign an offer sheet. That, I'm afraid, would truly poison the well! Personally, I don't think it'll get that far.

My earlier post was what I would work toward if I was the FO, as you suggested. I'd tell Johansen that, fine, you don't want the team to control your next FA period, and you say you want to play in Columbus, then we'll give you all the term we can. Then the public perception ball is his and his agent's court, to prove that they're not simply interested in getting him to UFA as quickly and profitably as possible.

 

[pete goegan]

My earlier post was what I would work toward if I was the FO, as you suggested. I'd tell Johansen that, fine, you don't want the team to control your next FA period, and you say you want to play in Columbus, then we'll give you all the term we can. Then the public perception ball is his and his agent's court, to prove that they're not simply interested in getting him to UFA as quickly and profitably as possible.

I think that'd be a reasonable approach, DSL.

 

[Crede777]

While I love the cut-throat approach, DSL, I wonder if it would be better to put him in that situation or to try to buy 1 year of UFA (so a 5 year deal) and hope you can change his mind during that time (4 years if he doesn't go for the 5 year deal).

One major issue I have with the current CBA is that there is little downside to signing longterm for a player. If a few years in he decides he doesn't like it here, he can demand a trade and will force the GM's hand. He doesn't have to stick it out if he doesn't like it.

 

[Double-Shift Lasse]

While I love the cut-throat approach, DSL, I wonder if it would be better to put him in that situation or to try to buy 1 year of UFA (so a 5 year deal) and hope you can change his mind during that time (4 years if he doesn't go for the 5 year deal).

One major issue I have with the current CBA is that there is little downside to signing longterm for a player. If a few years in he decides he doesn't like it here, he can demand a trade and will force the GM's hand. He doesn't have to stick it out if he doesn't like it.

It seems cutthroat but it's not, really. Since there's a good chance you're going to end up with a deal like you've described, negotiating that way shows your fanbase you're serious about keeping players long-term while being able to afford other good players, and gives the player a chance to redeem himself in the eyes of fans who read his comments and placed him in a negative light.

It's not that I'm not serious about trying to get Johansen into one of those preferred options, but you've reestablished how the talks are going to go that's most important.

All that said, I don't see the org. taking their "side" public in such a manner.

 

[Jackets16]

John Davidson, March 2014: I don't think this kid (Johansen) realizes just how good he is.

John Davidson, July 2014: Just who does this kid (Johandsen) think he is?


Hillarious, just get the deal done already Jarmo.

What does one have to do with the other? I bet you he would still say Johansen doesn't realize how good he is. Some people are acting like we offered Johansen $1 million per year. We have no clue how much we offered. All we know is we would prefer the term to be short and Johansen would prefer it to be longer (most likely 4 so he can become a UFA earlier).