The Columbus Blue Jackets have traded center Ryan Johansen to the Nashville Predators for defenseman Seth Jones.
The 23-year old Johansen was drafted 4th overall in the 2010 draft by the Blue Jackets.
The 21-year old Jones was drafted 4th overall in the 2013 draft by the Predators.
Johansen carries a $4 million salary cap hit through next season and will be a RFA when his deal expires.
Jones carries a $925,000 cap hit, and can earn up to $2.3 million in performance bonuses. He’ll be a RFA after this season.
Adam Vingan: Johansen thinks he could arrive in Nashville tonight, and could play as soon as Friday.
Thoughts from the media:
- Adam Vingan: “Last night had to be it for David Poile. Another listless offensive performance. This team needed a boost. Theoretically, it got one.”
- Adam Vingan: “Ryan Johansen has had a down season, but he’s still tied with Filip Forsberg for the Predators’ scoring lead among forwards with 26 points.”
- Jason Gregor: “Preds haven’t had the top-end skill to match Blackhawks. This puts them a step closer. They win trade short-term, but love Jones long-term.”
- Corey Pronman: “This wasn’t easy for NSH they adore Jones. Was their clear #1 pick in 2013, here’s Poile during Sochi deliberation”
- Chip Alexander: “This seems like an even trade. Upside for each player very high. Johansen should fare well with Laviolette and his system.”
- Linda Cohn: “Great deal for both. Preds desperate for scoring! Seth Jones will blossom and shine in Columbus. Real talent.”
- David Pagnotta: “If Columbus wins draft lottery, the franchise takes a HUGE step forward with Jones on backend and Auston Matthews up the middle.”
- Lyle Richardson of Spector’s Hockey: Some of Richardson’s thoughts on the trade.
“The Predators finally land a true first-line center, who should hopefully mesh well with wingers Filip Forsberg and James Neal on the Preds top line. They were in need of more scoring punch up front and Johansen should give it to them. He could also benefit from joining a deeper team with established talent, veteran leadership and stable coaching.”
…
“While I’m not surprised that Johansen was traded to the Predators, I thought they might get a little more in return than Jones. Johansen, after all, is a first-line center. Jones is a top-four defenseman with top-two potential. Should Jones continue his development, however, this could become a fair one-for-one swap.”
Darryl Dobbs from Dobber Hockey: Some of Dobber’s thoughts on the trade.
Johansen gets out from under John Tortorella. So, assuming Tortorella is fired in two years, Johansen can enjoy great production for the next two years that he wouldn’t otherwise have enjoyed. Long-term, Johansen was always going to be a 70- to 80-point guy, so that remains the same. But for this year and next, this move really helps him.
This deal also helps Seth Jones, as he immediately becomes the No.2 guy in Columbus. And if Torts takes a liking to him, he’ll become the No.1 guy there in an awful hurry. His ice time hovers around 19-20 minutes. Now? Think 25. Maybe not immediately, but it will move up to those levels pretty quickly if Torts likes what he sees. He’ll get an instant shot on the top power play and he’ll probably get several weeks there to get comfortable. Only way he loses the gig is if he doesn’t get it done after several weeks.
Ryan Johansen HERO chart from Ownthepuck
Seth Jones HERO chart from Ownthepuck
Ryan Johansen
Seth Jones
