After a long, and sometimes very bitter contract dispute, the Columbus Blue Jackets finally inked star centre Ryan Johansen, a Restricted free agent, to a new contract. The deal is for three years and was announced by the team, via twitter, moments ago.
#CBJ have agreed to terms with C Ryan Johansen on a 3-year contract. Official announcement to come.
— NHL Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) October 6, 2014
According to TSN’s Bob McKenzie, the deal is worth $12 million (AAV/Cap Hit $4 million per season). According to Aaron Portzline, the deal pays Johansen $3 million in each of the first two years, and $6 million in his final season. This backloading is significant as it means the qualifying offer he will need to remain a restricted free agent at that time will be at the higher number.
The 22-year-old Johansen, scored a career-high 33 goals and 63 points in 82 games with the Blue Jackets last season. He was the Blue Jackets first round pick, fourth overall in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.
Johansen missed all of training camp with this dispute. At one point, Blue Jackets president John Davidson called his contract demands “extortion.” There were also reports of a one-year offer from KHL team CSKA Moscow.
It is unclear who Johansen will play with when the season starts. His normal linemates, Nathan Horton (back) and Boone Jenner (broken hand) are both injured, and will be out of the line-up for the foreseeable future. These injuries made signing Johansen all the more imperative for the Blue Jackets.
For the latest sports injury news, check out our friends at Sports Injury Alert.
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Main Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images
