One day after Columbus Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen took a strong stance on Ryan Johansen's possible absence from training camp, club president John Davidson kicked things up a notch or three by referring to the restricted free agent's demands – and agent Kurt Overhardt's negotiation tactics – as "extortion."
Davidson admitted the club was willing to bend on term, but simply could not stomach the financial demands.
As per the Columbus Post Dispatch:
It makes no sense. When you see the numbers that are thrown at us, we shouldn't even respond. That’s how bad it is. It’s embarrassing. And if the kid sits out (of training camp), he sits out. I wonder if the agent is going to pay him his money back that he’s going to lose by sitting out?
We were thinking long-term if it was fair for both sides; we’re a very fair organization. But with the numbers they came back with … they are so one-sided it’s nonsensical. It’s extortion is what it is. I don’t make this stuff up. I've been in this league doing this for a long time now and this one here, it’s baffling is what it is. It’s baffling. Baffling.
Just because a guy has one good year, are you supposed to all of a sudden hand him the keys to city hall? We’re not trying to low-ball a guy. We don’t low-ball anybody.
If we ever caved to what he’s demanding, we’d all get fired. And I take it personal. I don’t understand it. I take it very personal. What’s he trying to do, get us fired? What’s he trying to do? I don’t understand what he’s trying to do.
Davidson also described the drawn out negotiation process as “embarrassing” and “absurd.”
Despite the stalemate, Davidson maintains the team will not consider trading the young center.
"Absolutely not; he’s a good guy and a good player,” Davidson said. “But you can’t sit here and have the Stamkos and the Toews and the Kane thrown at us (comparables used by Overhardt). He’s a good player, but he’s not Stamkos and he’s not Toews and he’s not Kane, at least not yet. He’s not.”
For their part, the Blue Jackets are looking at Colorado’s Matt Duchene, who signed a two-year, $7-million deal last summer, and New York Rangers forward Derek Stepan, who also signed last summer for two years at $5.8 million, as more realistic points of comparison for Johansen at this point in his career.
The Blue Jackets have long maintained they will match any offer sheet signed by Johansen, a bridge that may have to be crossed if the situation continues down this track. For now, Johansen has been informed he's not welcome in the dressing room until a contract is signed, and it's becoming increasingly likely that he will miss at least part of training camp.
