from Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch,
It has been six weeks since the Blue Jackets and center Ryan Johansen’s agent, Kurt Overhardt, have had contract negotiations, but that is expected to change this weekend.
Blue Jackets management, along with most of the organization’s top prospects, are traveling on Thursday to the annual prospects tournament in Traverse City, Mich. Overhardt, will be there, too, starting Friday, and sources said the sides are expected to meet face to face for the first time.
“The last time they contacted us, (the offer) wasn’t something that merited further talks,” Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said.
If Johansen, a restricted free agent, isn’t signed by next Wednesday, he will be asked to vacate his space in the Blue Jackets’ dressing room at Nationwide Arena and to stay away from the building.
Training camp opens Sept. 17 with physicals and testing, and the Blue Jackets don’t want any distractions, Kekalainen said. The first on-ice session is Sept. 19, with the exhibition opener two days later.
Johansen has been in Columbus the past two weeks, skating with about 20 other players in voluntary, player-run practices at the Ice Haus.
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