Fansided

Ryan Johansen talks have resumed

By Catherine Silverman

Apr 28, 2014; Columbus, OH, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang (58) carries the puck under pressure from Columbus Blue Jackets center Ryan Johansen (19) in game six of the first round of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 28, 2014; Columbus, OH, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang (58) carries the puck under pressure from Columbus Blue Jackets center Ryan Johansen (19) in game six of the first round of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports /
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So, I have my theories-

  1. Ryan Johansen’s agent has finally admitted that Johansen is not worth “Toews money”, or “Patrice Bergeron money”, or any of the other analogies he was throwing at the Blue Jackets
  2. Johansen is freaked by all of the other RFA’s leaving his holdout club, and wants to join the signing party
  3. The Columbus Blue Jackets are freaked, because Nathan Horton is indefinitely out and now Boone Jenner has a broken hand. 

Really, any one of these three theories could hold up. Regardless of the reason, though, it seems like the week-long hiatus in the Ryan Johansen contract negotiations is over, and talks have resumed.

More from Boston Bruins

Today marked the signing of three remaining restricted free agents- the Boston Bruins inked identical one-year, $1.4 million bridge deals for defenseman Torey Krug and Reilly Smith, and the Dallas Stars came to an agreement on a two-year, $1.9 million dollar cap hit agreement with forward Cody Eakin.

Whether Johansen felt left out of the party or not, though, there’s no sign of how confident either party is that they will come to an agreement before the season begins October 8th. The mile-wide gap between Johansen’s agent’s demands and the CBJ numbers offered may have gotten closer, but it clearly hasn’t closed.

If the two parties can come to terms on some kind of bridge deal that reasonably falls somewhere in the $3 million dollar void between the two parties’ previous offers, then good for Ryan Johansen. If not, looks like someone won’t be suiting up for the first puck drop after all.

More from Fansided: 

Dallas Stars re-sign Cody Eakin; Brenden Dillon remains
Boston Bruins re-sign Torey Krug, Reilly Smith
Sidney Crosby cleared to play by Saturday

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