Johansen getting traded was inevitable and comes as no real surprise. The playmaking center has had a very sub-par year, being scratched and benched multiple times. Johansen has posted 6 goals and 20 assists this season, a measly start compared to his career-best pace last season where he finished with 26 goals, 45 assists and 71 points. The trade rumors for Johansen started early on in the season, where it became clear that he was not in-shape at all. He was playing lazy and uninterested, and that was quickly acknowledged when new coach John Tortorella came into the picture on Oct. 21. Tortorella immediately singled out Johansen saying that he was not in-shape, and that he would not get any special treatment because of how good of a player he is. Tortorella began benching Johansen late in games for poor or lazy play, and would even make him a healthy scratch when he felt it was needed. A change of scenery was looking to be the ultimate fate for Johansen. It clearly was not clicking in Columbus, and both sides seemed to be looking to part ways.
So that brings us to the actual trade. Talks and rumors really heated up yesterday morning, and come that afternoon the news was out. Ryan Johansen for Seth Jones. Jones is a defensive prodigy who's two-way game is one of the best among young defenders in the league. Drafted 4th overall in 2013 by Nashville, Jones was acclaimed for his mobility and size. He excelled with the Predators for his first 2 1/2 years in the NHL, and now will take on the role as the number one defenseman on a Columbus team that is weak at the blueline and has struggled mightily this season. Johansen will take on the role of being the Predators number one centerman, as he will be slotted onto the top line for Nashville.
Now, who wins this trade? The thing is, both teams can ultimately get a lot out of this trade. However, in terms of immediate success related directly to this deal, it is my prediction that Nashville will reap a larger amount of benefits in a much shorter amount of time than Columbus will. For Nashville, this move is a "want to win now" move, while for Columbus it is a move that they will build their defense and team around in the next few years. Nashville is already a good team who currently sits in a playoff spot, but what they have been lacking in these last few years is a real number one center to round out their top 6 group of forwards. With Johansen sliding into the first line center position flanked by James Neal and Colin Wilson, it more than likely means that Mike Ribeiro will move down to the second line with Filip Forsberg and Calle Jarnkrok. Mike Fisher will take over third line center duties. Sometime in the next few years, you look for an ideal top line of Forsberg, Johansen, and young Swiss winger Kevin Fiala. Fiala is developing prospect with great playmaking potential who will eventually make his way to Nashville's top line right wing spot. Nashville's forward troops have scored a total of 71 of the team's 102 goals so far this season while averaging 2.6 goals per-game. With the addition of a true number once center, look for the goal totals and goals per-game stats to start increasing.
Johansen
Another reason Nashville is in a better place because of this trade is that the forwards are still backed by a solid defensive unit. Shea Weber-Roman Josi remain the number one pairing, and Ryan Ellis-Mattias Ekholm becomes the number two pairing. That is still a solid unit to put out on the ice in a tough division like the Central.
All in all, Nashville's lineup will now look like:
*according to Predators beat reporter, Adam Vingan via Twitter @AdamVingan
Wilson - Johansen - Neal
Forsberg - Ribeiro - Jarnkrok
Salomaki - Fisher - Smith
Nystrom - Gaustad - Watson
Josi - Weber
Ekholm - Ellis
Jackman - Grandberg
Nashville's offense is boosted with Johansen leading the charge down the middle. Look for Nashville's top 6 production to increase immediately. Johansen will thrive in his new environment, and under coach Peter Laviolette. James Neal (eventually Filip Forsberg) now has a legit centerman that can feed him the puck and make plays. Neal's goal scoring will increase, and so will the production of Nashville's power play units.
On to the Columbus end. After making the playoffs in 2014 and giving the Penguins a decent push in the first round, Columbus has seemed lost. A poor 14-15 showing, and now sitting dead last in the league in 2016, a shakeup was needed. Building up the Blue Jackets defense was of the most concern of GM Jarmo Kekalainen, and the chance of trading away Johansen provided him the perfect opportunity to acquire that coveted defensive piece to his team's heavily unfinished puzzle. Seth Jones immediately becomes the Blue Jackets number one defenseman, and will be relied on to handle top pairing minutes and to shut down other team's scoring lines while providing some offensive help from the point.
The reason Columbus will not receive the immediate success from this trade that Nashville will is because even with Jones, they still do not currently have enough fire power up front or have enough defensive assets close to Jones' level. Kekalainen will need to utilize the upcoming trade deadline and this next offseason/draft to build on his new acquisition. They are 19th in goals per-game, and that clearly has not been enough to save their poor defensive play. The Blue Jackets have allowed 236 goals this season. Not a good stat to have 41 games in. Defensive help needed to arrive, and Kekalainen made it happen.
What good comes out of this deal? Jones immediately makes the Columbus defense better, as he is now the best defenseman the team has had in the last few seasons. He is also only 21 years-old. Like stated above, this is a move that a team builds upon. Columbus will strengthen their offense now that they acquired that key defenseman they so desperately needed. They can focus on upgrading their offense, while still looking to slowly build up the D corps whenever the opportunity arises. Jones will man the top pairing alongside 22 year-old Ryan Murray. Jones and Murray patrolling the top unit means that the second pairing consists of Jack Johnson-David Savard, the third will be Fedor Tyutin-Cody Goloubef.
Jones
Jones will need to adjust to top pairing minutes coming from playing 2nd/3rd pairing minutes, but in my eyes he will no problem with the extra toll. In the future, Columbus defense prospect Zach Werenski to become the partner for Jones. With the two-way ability of both Jones and Werenski, that pairing has the potential to be one of the solid pairings in hockey given a few year's time once Werenski is ready for the NHL level. However, Columbus still needs more help on the backend if they want to succeed soon. Look for Kekalainen to make one or two more defensemen-minded moves before the trade deadline.
Columbus' lineup now shapes out to be:
*according to Daily Faceoff via Twitter, @DailyFaceoff
Jenner - Dubinsky - Atkinson
Hartnell - Wennberg - Saad
Foligno - Karlsson - Anderson
Bourque - Campbell - Boll
Murray - Jones
Johnson - Savard
Tyutin - Goloubef
This roster, while still retaining some scoring touch and being fairly balanced, is not going to get Columbus by if they want to become playoff contenders. While there may be no saving of this season, the Blue Jackets can build and prepare their club for next season and go from there. Columbus is not focused on the present, they have their eyes locked on the future. It will be entertaining to see what direction Kekalainen takes to rebuild his team and eventually get them back into the playoffs.
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