Report: Ryan Johansen lowers demands, but not enough for Blue Jackets
By Cory Buck
Ryan Johansen and his agent have reportedly lowered their demands in their ongoing contract feud with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Apparently they didn’t lower it enough though as the team hasn’t announced a signing and nothing appears imminent between the two.
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ESPN’s Pierre LeBrun reports that Johansen and his agent, Kurt Overhardt, lowered their contract demand. “It’s believed Overhardt came down last Thursday from the $6 million plus a year he originally asked for to less than $5 million per year. Overhardt would not comment on that information but a source confirmed it to ESPN.com.”
At this point, the Jackets are touching on worth-it territory in talks with Johansen. Preseason games have already begun and the team needs its top scorer back if it’s going to remain competitive in the upcoming season.
The Blue Jackets have strong-armed Johansen into taking the term they want and given the team’s leverage with the youngster, they’ll get the salary ($3 million/year) they reportedly want or very close to it.
What’s left to be seen is how much this will affect talks in two or three years, when Johansen gains arbitration rights. If PK Subban’s saga taught us anything, it’s that millions saved now will likely come back to the player if he maintains his stellar play during a bridge contract.
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