Blue Jackets Have Been “More Than Fair” With Johansen
The negotiations between the Columbus Blue Jackets and Ryan Johansen have been at a stalemate for quite some time now. Johansen originally wanted a long term deal worth about $7 million a year. The Jackets were looking for more of a 2 year bridge deal. The length has been worked out, but Johansen won’t budge on the money. Columbus offered him 2 years, 3 million AAV. His agent, Kurt Overhardt, wanted to double that. Neither side was willing to budge on those figures on quite some time. Then, the Jackets seemed to give in a little to the Johansen side.
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Mar 25, 2014; Columbus, OH, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets center Ryan Johansen (19) celebrates a empty net goal during the third period against the Detroit Red Wings at Nationwide Arena. Columbus beat Detroit 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Russell LaBounty-USA TODAY Sports
The details of the latest offer were revealed by Blue Jackets Owner John Davidson Wednesday afternoon. The Jackets offered the 22 year old an 8 year, $46 Million contract. Davidson reports that the Jackets have been “More than fair” and it’s “nowhere near what they (Johansen) want”. Once this was released by JD, the table was turned to Overhardt. Overhardt has a history of holding out his clients from training camp, such as Kyle Turris with the Senators and Brandon Dubinsky with the Rangers.
I think our group has been very fair, in fact more than fair. But it’s nowhere near what they want. When it gets to that point, you start going ‘enough is enough here.’” – John Davidson
John Davidson also reports that they are prepared to start training camp without their #1 center, and Coach Richards repeated that in a later press conference. Thankfully this holdout doesn’t hold the same weight that it would have had a few years ago, where the Jackets season hopes may have relied solely on one superstar, but the culture has changed, and with that, the Jackets ownership is less and less willing to give in to the youngster who is coming off a breakout 3o goal season.
There is some optimism, however, as GM Jarmo Kekalainen expects Ryan Johansen to be at training camp. Some of the Jacket faithful do not share that optimism, and the remainder of this situation is yet to be seen, but it seems as if its gotten personal instead of being purely about business. Will Johansen be at training camp? That remains to be seen. All that can be said now is that the two sides are still worlds apart.