Ryan Johansen is a member of the Nashville Predators. Today, tomorrow, and probably for a long time.
Traded by the Columbus Blue Jackets in a one-for-one swap for defenseman Seth Jones, Johansen opened up about the deal with The Tennessean's Adam Vingan, saying the end of speculation about his future was certainly welcome.
"As soon as I hopped on that plane (after the trade), I just felt like I wanted to be at the rink," the 23-year-old said. "I wanted to get there. I wanted to get on the ice with the guys, just start my new chapter, I guess. ... For me, it was kind of like a 'get to work' moment."
Johansen's been a Predator for 32 games, after spending the first four seasons and 38 games of his career with the Blue Jackets. After scoring 33 goals in 2013-14, a career high, and 26 last season, his goal-scoring touch has abandoned him this season. He scored six with Columbus and has six with Nashville. He averaged 0.68 points per game this season before the trade and is averaging 0.69 after.
Johansen's thankful the deal happened when it did, long before the trade deadline. He feels like a Predator, as the club gears up for a playoff run.
"Just kind of a bonus of the trade was getting it done in January there instead of right at the trade deadline where things are a little more hectic," he said. "I was able to have some more time to adjust and get settled in with a new team and stuff and get more familiar with the guys and how they play and the systems and things like that. I think it was definitely, for any player I guess, a better situation to get there early.
Johansen makes it clear he wasn't relieved he was traded - he was committed to Columbus - but he was excited to start the next phase of his career, especially considering how young he still is.
"They made it very clear that I was the top-line center that they had been looking for, and for me, that's the perfect opportunity. I can go out there and just do my thing and have fun," he said.
Johansen's played six playoff games in his career, in 2013-14, scoring twice and adding four assists. The Predators are hoping for similar production, in hopefully three or four times the games.
