Report: Blue Jackets, Johansen inching closer towards deal

With the season opener less than a week away, it appears the Columbus Blue Jackets and center Ryan Johansen have taken small steps towards coming to terms on a new contract.

According to Aaron Portzline of the Post Dispatch, the Blue Jackets increased their offer to two years at $3.25 million per season, up from their long-standing offer of $6 million over two years. 

On the other side, Johansen and agent Kurt Overhardt are now asking for two years at $4.5 million per season, down from their starting point of $13.7 million over two years.

As it stands, then, the two sides remain $1.5 million per season apart (or $3 million total) over a seemingly agreed-upon two-year term.

Progress, to be sure, but it's not an insignificant gap, especially with only six days to go before the puck drops on a new season.