Report: Blue Jackets' Johansen 'softly in play' on trade market
The Columbus Blue Jackets may be ready to part with one of their top young players.
Ryan Johansen is "softly in play" on the trade market, Darren Dreger reports on TSN's "Insider Trading."
"That doesn't mean that Jarmo Kekalainen, the general manager of the Blue Jackets, is calling teams and saying, 'What are you going to give me?' However, when teams call, he's not dismissing the interest," Dreger said. "He is saying, 'What's your offer?' So what that tells you is there's at least some interest in considering the trade of Ryan Johansen."
Dreger adds that if the right deal comes along, the Blue Jackets will consider it.
Johansen has four goals and 12 assists in 20 games this season, but was recently demoted to the fourth line in Sunday's loss to the San Jose Sharks.
#CBJ C Ryan Johansen with a season-low 13:52, played final 40 on 4th line. Scored goal, only Jacket w > .500 faceoff percentage (9-15).
— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) November 23, 2015
The 23-year-old forward has two years remaining on his contract with an annual cap hit of $4 million.
Columbus is sitting 29th in the NHL with a record of 8-14-0 and 16 points.