5 players who could be next year’s Ryan Johansen
After exploding for 33 goals in the final year of his entry-level contract, the Blue Jackets’ Ryan Johansen still hasn’t signed a new deal with Columbus. Four days before the regular season is set to open, you have to wonder if missing all of training camp hasn’t caused Johansen to take a step back.
Typically, players who have injuries which cause them to miss camp have slow starts or sub par seasons. Could Johansen be in line for the same?
Although they are talking, the two sides are still far apart, by as much as a million dollars per season according to some reports.
It’s not the first time an NHL player has held out for a better deal after a big season, and it certainly won’t be the last. Here are the top 5 players who could be next year’s Ryan Johansen.
Mar 11, 2014; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Blues right wing Vladimir Tarasenko (91) skates with the puck against the Dallas Stars during the second period at Scottrade Center. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Vladimir Tarasenko, Right Wing, St. Louis Blues
Tarasenko came over from the KHL before the 2012-13 season and had an immediate impact. So far, he’s scored 29 goals in 102 games in his first two NHL seasons. Last season, he put up 43 points in just 64 games.
The Blues’ first round playoff series against the Blackhawks was really his coming out party. He scored four goals in six games and often looked like the most dangerous player on the ice not named Patrick Kane.
Tarasenko may be playing in a defensive system in St. Louis, but he has all the tools to be a 40-goal scorer as early as this season, assuming he stays healthy for a full season.
If he does, the Blues better make sure they lock him up sooner rather than later. It’s all but a certainty that if Tarasenko becomes a star in the NHL, his old KHL buddies will offer him a small fortune to return.
Mar 20, 2014; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Edmonton Oilers defenseman Justin Schultz (19) skates with the puck against the Buffalo Sabres during the first period at Rexall Place. Buffalo Sabres won 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports
Justin Schultz, Defenseman, Edmonton Oilers
Schultz was a very sought after commodity after he chose to test the free agent waters two years ago, having virtually every team at least kick the tires during the interview process.
While he hasn’t quite lived up to the hype that his signing generated, he’s still scored 60 points in 122 games so far and has been a very dynamic offensive defenseman.
If he can improve his defensive game and have a breakout offensive campaign, he could be looking at a significant raise next summer.
The thing with Schultz is his agent is Wade Arnott of Newport Sports Management. That agency also represents Bobby Ryan, Drew Doughty and PK Subban, all of which have at some point or another had long, drawn-out contract negotiations with their respective clubs.
Jan 26, 2014; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Edmonton Oilers right wing Nail Yakupov (64) on ice against the Nashville Predators at Rexall Place. The Oilers won 5-1. Mandatory Credit: Candice Ward-USA TODAY Sports
Nail Yakupov, Right Wing, Edmonton Oilers
The summer of 2015 should be interesting for Craig MacTavish and the Oilers, as they have not only Schultz but former first overall pick Nail Yakupov to re-sign.
While Yakupov had a very disappointing year in 2013-14 with just 11 goals in 63 games, it’s important not to overlook the fact that he scored at nearly a 30-goal pace in his rookie season as an 19 year-old.
He has all the talent in the world to be a top goal-scoring threat in the NHL, and with a better supporting cast this could be the year we see him start to fulfill that potential.
Edmonton has already hinted in the past that Yakupov was part of trade talks when the club was looking to bring in goaltending and defensive help. The question with Yakupov is, will the Oilers want to commit big dollars and a lot of years to a player who has been this inconsistent, even after one big season and if not, is Yakupov prepared to sign a bridge type of deal?
May 22, 2014; New York, NY, USA; Montreal Canadiens center Alex Galchenyuk (27) celebrates after scoring the game-winning goal against the New York Rangers during the overtime period in game three of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports
Alex Galchenyuk, Left Wing/Centre, Montreal Canadiens
The former third overall pick, and Yakupov’s former linemate in junior, is primed for a big season in Montreal. Many believe that if he hadn’t been injured during his draft year, Galchenyuk could’ve been the top pick in the 2012 draft. He’s that good.
So far, he’s managed 58 points in 113 games while getting just over 13 minutes of ice-time per game. He’s also been productive in the playoffs with six points in 10 games over two seasons, something that is uncommon for players his age.
While he’s been primarily used as a left winger so far, Galchenyuk’s natural position is at centre and it’s likely the Habs use him more there this year. His future in the NHL is as a number one pivot, not as a left winger.
That likely means an opportunity to produce more points.
The Canadiens have made it a club policy to always sign bridge deals for players coming out of entry-level, as with PK Subban, Carey Price and Max Pacioretty. If those three didn’t qualify as exceptions, you have to believe anything short of an Art Ross/Hart Trophy calibre season from Galchenyuk will put him in the same boat. But given the lack of a true number one centre in the organization for decades now, can Montreal afford to play hard-ball with him, assuming it comes to that?
Sep 24, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs forward Nazem Kadri (43) carries the puck against the Ottawa Senators at the Air Canada Centre. Ottawa defeated Toronto 4-3 in an overtime shoot-out. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
Nazem Kadri, Centre, Toronto Maple Leafs
After scoring 44 points in 48 games in 2012-13, the final year of his entry-level deal, Kadri was looking for a long-term deal from the Leafs. What he got was a two-year bridge contract that ends after this season.
While he didn’t score at near the point-per-game pace of the year before, last season’s 20 goals and 50 points were a good follow-up to his breakout campaign.
If Kadri can find the consistency needed to produce over an 82-game season, he has the skill set to be a top 20 scorer in the NHL.
On a team starved for top six centres, can Toronto afford to play hardball again with Kadri if he has another big year? More importantly perhaps, if he comes to close to a point-per-game for the second time in three seasons, will Kadri not deserve a long-term, big money deal?
Considering that the two sides already have one difficult negotiation in their history, you have to wonder if Kadri won’t be in another uniform sooner rather than later.