Kukla's Korner Hockey

Kukla's Korner Hockey

Blue Jackets Fighting For The League In Contract Dispute With Ryan Johansen

09/24/2014 at 11:53am EDT

from Aaron Portzline of Puck Rakers,

This epic standoff between the Blue Jackets and center Ryan Johansen is bigger than any of the parties involved. It is bigger than Blue Jackets president of hockey operations John Davidson, bigger than GM Jarmo Kekalainen and bigger than assistant GM Bill Zito, who has done the club's bidding. It is bigger than Johansen and bigger than his agent, Kurt Overhart. It reaches beyond Nationwide Arena.

The Blue Jackets truly believe they have the moral high ground in this fight, as if such a position exists between millionaire owners and millionaire athletes. The Blue Jackets are fighting for their own budget, of course, but they are also fighting on behalf of all other NHL clubs.

If the Blue Jackets gave in to Johansen's salary demands -- Overhardt first asked for $6.8 million per season for a two-year deal; now he's seeking $4.7 million per year -- a new standard would be set across the league, and the class of players with virtually no negotiating rights (RFAs coming out of entry-level deals) would have been given a new template from which future contracts would be based.

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Paul Kukla founded Kukla’s Korner in 2005 and the site has since become the must-read site on the ‘net for all the latest happenings around the NHL.

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