The Columbus Blue Jackets have traded center Ryan Johansen to the Nashville Predators for defenseman Seth Jones.
Blue Jackets ship Ryan Johansen to the Predators for Seth Jones.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Johansen trade was inevitable. After the contract disputes and his struggles this season, no one in Jackets management declared the 23-year-old center was untouchable. This move won’t help the Blue Jackets get into the playoffs this season, but the addition of Jones should provide a welcome boost to their blueline over the long run.
They were in the market for a skilled defenseman for months. Jones was already showing considerable potential as a blossoming blueline stud in Nashville, so that should continue in Columbus under coach John Tortorella.
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.
Johansen’s an expensive pickup for the usually cost-conscious Preds ($4 million per season through 2016-17, earning $6 million in actual salary next season), but they need to go deep in the playoffs and they’re obviously hoping Johansen can help them achieve that goal. He’ll be costly to re-sign, but the Predators are obviously comfortable with facing that.
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.
About a good a D man CBJ could get.
Surprised the deal was not bigger tbough.
I agree lyle a lot of ppl said nsh wouldn’t have to give up weber,josi or jones but to get a top centre you would have to give up one of them! I thought a pick would have been going to clb too
This is VERY interesting indeed. NSH depth chart on C got totally re-shuffled.
1. Johansen 2. Ribeiro, 3. Fisher, 4. Gaustad.
Wow. That’s much better balance indeed.
Still think it is over payment but we will see in the years to come.
Huh. I think Jones is better now and will be better in the medium and long term as well.
On the other hand, Columbus still seems kind of like a mess with Tortorella as coach and much weaker centre depth. Whereas Nashville looks a whole lot better as a team.
Addresses needs for both teams. This trade will benefit Nashville more as they have the defensive depth to absorb the loss. If we thought Forsberg was good, watch what he does with a true number 1 C…and they will grow together. Great pick up!
totally agree angelo for right now nsh won this trade and ya neal johansen and Forsberg should be good!
….does leave a hole at C for columbus after Dubinsky they are thin.
Yes. Kekalainen must now hunt for other quality Centers for the next few years. Not easy to draft them or acquire through trades. He should leave no stone unturned. Center depth is pivotal in NHL and can be accumulated over time if prioritized.
Win the lotto and draft Auston Matthews. Problem solved.
Actually Wennberg has been coming on like gang busters since Torts put him on a line with Hartnell & Saad. He has essentially been putting up a point per game over the last 6 weeks & is getting quality power play time. Alexander Wenneberg is by far the most gifted offensive player in Columbus even before Johansen was traded. Although just a kid scratching the surface of his potential.
In Dubinsky, Wennberg, Karlsson & Campbell Columbus is fine at C. Both Foligno & Jenner can play center if needed.
This is a good trade for both teams as both got something they truly needed but although both are difficult assets to acquire getting a Dman with #1 or 2 potential might be more difficult than finding or developing a #1 C. Nashville was in a position where they could easily afford to move Jones. With Weber, Josi, Ellis & Ekblad their top 4 is set & now they don’t have to worry about Jones contract throwing their cap situation out of wack. Jones will be getting 5 plus million next season on a new deal. That would have put him ahead of Josi in Nashville’s salary structure so this just makes a ton of sense for Nashville.
Salary was the equalizer in this trade. Good for CBJ. NASHVILLE TOO
Johansen is a ” potential “stud with an agent who is a dud in asking for big coin before it was due. This will be an even deal now and in the future as Jones would have eventually been after some serious dollars as well
I woke up feeling like it a serious NHL trade would happen today.
Fun one for hockey fans. Can RJ finally get back in shape and show up everyday?
Nashville is stacked on the blueline. This could be a great deal for both sides I agree
great trade for nashville and if Columbus wins the Auston Mathews sweepstakes they will be looking good for the future thats for sure .
wow trade deadline day came early.
I agree moe right now nsh wins but future jones could be a stud!
Their d will look pretty good in a year or 2 with werenski, jones, savard and murray as their top 4
Yes. A very good trade for both teams long term. NSH gets very good center depth and still has very good defense + goalie. CLB now has a top 3-4 young defense with potential, all while having decent forwards. They really have to get better goaltending though. Bobrovsky is paid like an all-star but doesn’t play like it. THAT’S their immediate problem and would be the quickest fix to many of their problems.
we still wait to see who pays for the playoff rental of Stamkos.
What more important a #1 dman or a #1 cman? imo good trade for both.
I agree. It was sort of a situation of squandered potential if they would have chosen not to do it. There was opportunity there. As good as NSH is defensively, they had to balance out their roster a little.
It’s great to have both of those things for sure. Look at the teams that have won the cup lately. Chicago, and LA has both, and same goes for Boston when they won their cup
I really miss these bigger trades. Now it’s instantly must more interesting tuning in to Nashville and Columbus games to watch how it’s shaking out. There should be more trades, it keeps interest up.
Condolences to Seth Jones. He’ll learn a lot under John Tortorella – how to block shots, how to find the way to the doghouse, how to become a scapegoat, how to go from future star to next good player traded by Columbus. Hang in there, kid.
BC Leaf Fan,
Great call! You nailed it! Both teams got a couple of good young promising players but Nashville wins this trade in a big way because Ryan Johansen won’t have to play for John Tortorella anymore.
Totally agree. As a Canucks fan, I was willing to give Tortorella a chance when he came to Vancouver. But after that fiasco… I’m just glad management didn’t do something stupid like dump Henrik Sedin for playing poorly that year (they timed the Kesler trade right, though). Something was wrong with the whole team, and it stunk.
Great call Lyle, you were on the money here.
Ryan Johansen is a very good player, he’s got size and a lot of potential. He’s probably eventually a legit #1 C, but this is a player with less five vs five points in more career games than Nazem Kadri (who plays a better two-way game).
As per James Tanner. The 5v5 stat surprised me.