Ryan Johansen

Johansen was drafted into the Western Hockey League (WHL) 150th overall by the Portland Winterhawks in the 2007 Bantam Draft. Having been offered an athletic scholarship to play with Northeastern University, he opted to play for the Penticton Vees of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) in 2008–09 to protect his eligibility for the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA).[notes 1][1][2] He appeared in 42 games for the Vees as a 16-year-old, scoring 5 goals and 12 assists.[2]

Johansen with the Winterhawks in November 2010

Convinced of his ability, the Winterhawks persuaded Johansen to forego university and join their club for the 2009–10 WHL season.[1] In Portland, he joined a line with fellow 2010 NHL Entry Draft prospects Nino Niederreiter and Brad Ross.[3] He finished the year with 25 goals and 69 points in 71 games, second among league rookies behind Kevin Connauton and second in team scoring, behind Chris Francis.[4][5] Helping the Winterhawks make the playoffs one year after finishing last in the WHL,[3] they advanced to the second round. Johansen added 18 points in 13 games, ninth in league scoring and first among rookies,[6][7] despite playing in only two of four playoff rounds.

Johansen rapidly climbed prospect charts for the 2010 NHL Draft, starting the year as a potential second round selection,[8] before rising to 16th among North American skaters when the NHL Central Scouting Bureau (CSB) released its mid-season ranking.[3] Johansen's coach with Penticton noted that, as one of the younger players of his draft class, his skill was often overlooked.[8] NHL scouts praised his speed, playmaking ability and vision on the ice but believed he needed to show more consistency and physicality.[2][9] He had been compared to Ottawa Senators centre Jason Spezza,[9] while Johansen had said he tried to model his game after San Jose Sharks centre Joe Thornton.[3] He finished the season as the tenth ranked skater according to Central Scouting and was projected to be a top 20 pick, perhaps as high as top 10.[1] With the fourth overall pick in the 2010 NHL Draft, Johansen was chosen by the Columbus Blue Jackets.

A couple of months after his draft, Johansen signed with Columbus to a three-year, entry-level contract on September 9, 2010.[10] With a base salary of $900,000, the deal could have reached $1.975 million per year if he achieved all his bonus incentives.[10] Attending his first NHL training camp that month, he did not make the Blue Jackets roster and was returned to Portland on October 2 for another year of junior hockey.[11] Back in the WHL, Johansen was chosen to represent the league at the 2010 Subway Super Series,[12] a six-game exhibition tournament featuring all-stars from the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) against Russian junior players. He completed the 2010–11 season improving to 92 points (40 goals and 52 assists) in 63 games, ranking seventh among league scorers.[13]

Johansen with the Blue Jackets in November 2011

Joining the Blue Jackets' training camp for a second year, Johansen made the opening line-up for the 2011–12 season. He made his NHL debut on October 7, 2011, registering 8 minutes and 46 seconds of ice time in a 3–2 loss to the Nashville Predators.[14][15] He registered his first NHL point, an assist on a Kris Russell goal, in a 4–3 loss to the Ottawa Senators on October 22.[16] Three days later, he scored his first NHL goal against Ty Conklin of the Detroit Red Wings. Banking the puck off of Conklin's skate from behind the goal line, the milestone came on the power play and was the game-winner. He also added an assist to help Columbus to their first win of the season, a 4–1 victory.[17] After playing in his ninth game of the season, having recorded two goals and two assists in that span, Johansen was notified by Blue Jackets head coach Scott Arniel that he would remain with the team and not be returned to junior.[notes 2][18]

Due to the NHL's decision to lock out the players at the start of the 2012–13 season until a new collective bargaining agreement could be reached, Johansen was reassigned to the Blue Jackets' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Springfield Falcons.[19][20] On February 24, 2013, Johansen was re-called by the Blue Jackets for the remainder of the season, which began on January 19 after an agreement was reached. In the 2013–14 season, Johansen had a break-out year, scoring 33 goals and 30 assists for a total of 63 points, a career high. He was the third Blue Jacket in franchise history to post 30 goals or more in one season.

During the 2015–16 season, on January 6, 2016, Johansen was traded by the Blue Jackets to the Nashville Predators in exchange for Seth Jones.[21] Johansen finished the season with 60 points in 80 games.

During Johansen's first full season with the Predators, he recorded 61 points in 82 games. During the 2017 Stanley Cup playoffs, Johansen suffered an acute compartment syndrome in his left thigh in the Western Conference Finals against the Anaheim Ducks. Emergency surgery was required, and Johansen was forced to miss the remainder of the post-season.[22] The Predators reached the Stanley Cup Finals against the Pittsburgh Penguins, falling in six games to the defending champions.

On July 28, 2017, the Predators re-signed Johansen to an eight-year, $64 million contract worth $8 million annually. The deal was the biggest signed in Predators' history.[23]