In the 2013-14 season, the last year of his entry-level contract, Ryan Johansen scored 33 goals. That offseason’s contract negotiations were tense, but Johansen eventually signed a bridge deal and gave the 2014-15 Blue Jackets a 26-goal, 71-point season. That was his last full year with them. After the Blue Jackets relieved head coach Todd Richards of his duties to end the tailspin they began the 2015-16 season in, Johansen rapidly fell out of favor with new head coach John Tortorella. Stories about his health, his conditioning, and his work ethic spread.
At the same time, in Nashville, David Poile’s decision to extend Mike Ribeiro was already looking like a mistake.