Carolina Hurricanes Should Keep An Eye on the Ryan Johansen Situation
By Glenn Brewer
The NHL season is quickly approaching as we get through the dog days of summer. The Carolina Hurricanes have been quiet despite needing to lock up their lone restricted free agent, Seth Jarvis. Besides finalizing a Jarvis trade, it appears the Canes have completed their offseason transactions.
The recent news of the Philadelphia Flyers terminating the contract of center, Ryan Johansen, makes you wonder if he would be a fit in Carolina. The Canes have been coveting a playmaking, right-handed centerman for quite a while. Carolina did sign Jack Roslovic this summer but it never hurts to take a chance on a player with the skill of Johansen. Similar to the acquisition of Evgeny Kuznetsov at the trade deadline, Johansen would come with some baggage.
The 32-year-old was traded to Philadelphia at the trade deadline last spring for now-current, Canes defenseman Sean Walker. A former 4th overall draft choice by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2010 NHL Draft, Johansen has played with Columbus and Nashville.
The Vancouver native has only eclipsed the 30-goal mark once in his career but he has put up 60-plus point seasons three times, most recently with Nashville in 2018. Recent years have seen struggles staying on the ice which naturally has hurt his production.
After being acquired from Philadelphia, it was determined that Johansen had an injury that required surgery. This combined with the shedding of the large salary cap hit, Johansen could be a player to groom into the organization, similar to how Max Pacioretty began his short career in Raleigh.
In a low-risk, high-reward signing, Johansen could provide size and skill down the middle when he is on the ice. Something Carolina has desired for the past few playoff exits, Eric Tulsky could have this fall on his lap under his first summer as general manager.