Ryan Johansen

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Lore & Background

Johansen's path to Columbus began when the Portland Winterhawks drafted him 150th overall in the 2007 WHL bantam draft. Although offered an athletic scholarship for Northeastern University, he opted to play for the Penticton Vees in 2008–09 to protect his NCAA eligibility, scoring 5 goals and 12 assists in 42 games as a 16-year-old. Convinced of his ability, the Winterhawks persuaded him to join their club for the 2009–10 WHL season. There, he joined a line with fellow prospects Nino Niederreiter and Brad Ross, finishing with 25 goals and 69 points in 71 games. His rapid rise saw him go from a potential second-round selection to being projected as high as the top 10 pick by NHL Central Scouting, ultimately landing fourth overall in the 2010 draft. After signing a three-year entry-level contract on September 9, 2010, Johansen made his NHL debut on October 7, 2011. In a historic moment for the franchise, he and fellow rookie John Moore both scored their first career NHL goals against the Detroit Red Wings just three days later, marking the first time two Blue Jackets players achieved this in the same game. By mid-January of his rookie year, Johansen was tied for the NHL lead among rookies with three game-winning goals. He finished that season playing all 82 games, leading the team with 33 goals and 63 points.

In Their Own Story

The 2012–13 season tested Johansen's resilience when an NHL lockout forced his reassignment to the Blue Jackets' AHL affiliate, the Springfield Falcons. He made an immediate impact on their top line, tallying six points in seven games and leading the team to a 5–1–1 record for the first time in franchise history. After being recalled on February 24, 2013, he centered a line with Matt Calvert and Nick Foligno. However, the following off-season brought his lowest point; benched by the Falcons coaching staff during the 2012 Calder Cup Championships, Johansen described hitting "rock bottom." He returned to training camp weighing 222 pounds after spending the summer gaining muscle. That physical transformation fueled a breakout 2013–14 campaign. Alongside linemates Brandon Dubinsky and Cam Atkinson, he led the team with 10 goals by November and maintained a nine-game point streak in December. By early February, he led the Blue Jackets in goals while tied for 14th in the NHL with 23. On April 8, Johansen scored an overtime game-winning goal to secure the franchise's 41st win, tying a record that helped them clinch their first wild-card spot and face the Pittsburgh Penguins in the playoffs.

Reader's Guide

Ryan Johansen's tenure with the Columbus Blue Jackets spanned from his debut in October 2011 until his trade in January 2016. Drafted fourth overall, he quickly became a mainstay on the top line, often playing alongside veterans like Rick Nash and Jeff Carter. He was recognized as one of the NHL's top rookies, selected for the 2012 All-Star Skills Competition and finishing the year with two goals and two assists in his first nine games. During contract negotiations in the 2014 off-season, Johansen engaged in a holdout that Blue Jackets president John Davidson described as "absurd" and "extortion." The team had offered amounts including $6 million, $32 million, and $46 million before agreeing on a three-year deal worth $3 million for the first two years and $6 million for the final year. Despite missing the majority of training camp, he made an immediate impact upon signing. His time in Columbus concluded when he was traded to the Nashville Predators for Seth Jones in January 2016.

Did You Know?

• Johansen and John Moore became the first two players in franchise history to score their first NHL goals in the same game.
• He was benched by the Springfield Falcons during the 2012 Calder Cup Championships, a moment he described as hitting 'rock bottom'.
• In his rookie season, Johansen became the third player in NHL history to tally two game-winning goals as his first in the league.
• He improved to 92 points (40 goals and 52 assists) in 63 games during his second WHL season with the Portland Winterhawks.