Retiring Nashville Predators general manager David Poile had been shopping center Ryan Johansen for the last few years.
Incoming Predators general manager Barry Trotz and Poile finally found a buyer Saturday when the Predators traded the 30-year-old center and half of his $8 million-per-season salary cap hit to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for center Alex Galchenyuk.
Galchenyuk will be an unrestricted free agent July 1, the same day Trotz officially takes over for Poile.
Johansen, who was acquired during the 2015-16 season from Columbus for Seth Jones, helped the franchise to its only Stanley Cup Final appearance in 2017, its first Presidents’ Trophy in 2018 and two Central Division titles along the way. But his production has dipped during the last few seasons, with an ankle injury costing him the final 27 games of last season.
So, what does this trade mean for the Predators, and what kind of grade did Trotz earn for this trade?
Where Predators stand on salary cap space
So, the Predators had to pay someone to take Johansen.
While they will eat $4 million of Johansen’s salary for the next two seasons as part of the deal, they also gain $4 million in salary-cap space during that time.
According to capfriendly.com, the Predators have just over $19.5 million in projected salary-cap space next season after the trade, leaving the door open for Trotz to make more big moves. He could trade for a big contract (think along the lines of a player such as Alex DeBrincat) to help the team get better now, trade for a bad contract to amass more draft capital or prospects, or dabble in the world of offer sheets.
Ryan Johansen trade limits Predators
Trading Johansen and retaining half his salary comes with another price, though.
Each NHL team is allowed to retain three salaries concurrently, meaning the Predators will have only one such slot for the next two seasons.
The Predators also retained $250,000 of defenseman Mattias Ekholm’s salary for the next three years after dealing him to the Edmonton Oilers in February.
The Predators also have a $2 million cap hit for the next five seasons as a result of buying out Kyle Turris’ contract, meaning they will have $6.25 million in dead money against their salary cap for the next two seasons.
Trade fits Barry Trotz’s goals
Trotz has said he wants the Predators to be younger, faster and more offense-oriented.
Johansen’s departure likely means he will be on track to achieve those goals. Trotz said after the season that Johansen had a lot to prove in terms of his role with the team. In his absence, playing time will presumably be freed up in favor of youth. Players such as Cody Glass and Tommy Novak will likely see more playing time.
More moves ahead with NHL draft in Nashville?
With Ekholm, Johansen, Tanner Jeannot, Mikael Granlund, Nino Niederreiter all traded on Trotz’s watch and the NHL Draft in town next week, who might be next?
Matt Duchene and Juuse Saros are the obvious candidates, but both potential moves bring with them some questions. Would the Predators have to eat some money and use their final salary retainer spot on Duchene, whose value is much higher than Johansen’s.
With two years at $5 million left on Saros’ team-friendly deal, his value likely won’t ever be higher. Trading him would make a lot of sense. But are the Predators willing to do that? Seems doubtful. Is there a team willing to pay a king’s ransom, which is what it would take for the Predators to make such a deal? Maybe.
What Barry Trotz said about trading Ryan Johansen
“I look at the next four years with the number of young players we have coming, the cap situation,” Trotz told The Tennessean on Saturday afternoon. “I just didn’t feel like when we’re in that window where we’re going to start contending upward that it made any sense that Ryan would be a part of that. I felt move sooner (rather) than later.”
Trade grade
Give Trotz an A for this move. Moving Johansen frees up money and playing time and possibilities for the Predators. More importantly, the Predators did not give up any draft picks or prospects in the deal. Meanwhile, the Avalanche are getting a likely second-line center to help bolster a lineup that already features Nathan MacKinnon.
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This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Ryan Johansen trade impact on Predators, Barry Trotz’s reaction