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Report: Negotiations remain ‘chilly’ between Columbus, Johansen

Columbus Blue Jackets v Pittsburgh Penguins - Game Five

PITTSBURGH, PA - APRIL 26: Ryan Johansen #19 of the Columbus Blue Jackets skates against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game Five of the First Round of the 2014 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Consol Energy Center on April 26, 2014 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

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Most of the headlines regarding the Columbus Blue Jackets paint a rosy picture, but it sounds like the team has some work to do before retaining important restricted free agent Ryan Johansen. The Columbus Dispatch’s Aaron Portzline describes the negotiations as “chilly as ever.”

Portzline seemingly implies that both sides believe that they have more leverage than maybe they really do.

Really, though, it’s understandable that both sides are at an impasse. The 22-year-old exploded in 2013-14, scoring more goals (33) and points (63) this past season than he had in 2011-12 and 2012-13 combined. His shooting percentage wasn’t outrageously high, either, at 13.9. (That might go down a bit, but it’s not like one out of every five shots resulted in a goal.)

One assumes that Johansen’s side believes he should be paid like a guy who will score 30 goals every season in a long-term deal while the Blue Jackets want him to prove that he can be that kind of scorer for a few more years before they break the bank.

Both parties would probably admit that Johansen missing time - especially regular season games - isn’t ideal, but we’ve seen that happen before. Of course, there have been plenty of instances in which seemingly ugly negotiations end in back-slaps, handshakes and smiles in the matter of a night.

We’ll just have to see how this goes, but so far it sounds like things are moving along slowly.

(H/T to the Score.)

Follow James O’Brien @cyclelikesedins