No one can say with any certainty at this point that Columbus Blue Jackets center Ryan Johansen will be traded, but the signs do seem to be indicating that it's less a possibility and more a likelihood. The No. 1 center has struggled with his conditioning off the ice and his play on it and new Blue Jackets head coach John Tortorella hasn't been shy about making it clear, with his words to the media and his actions in terms of Johansen's availability and playing time, that the young superstar's game isn't up to snuff.
With Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen reportedly "testing" Johansen's trade value earlier this season, it sure sounds like a deal is inching closer to an inevitability. The only question that remains is - who is willing to pony up the dough for a deal?
According to a recent report from David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, there are six teams "seriously interested" in acquiring Johansen. One of those teams is the Montreal Canadiens.
Under GM Marc Bergevin, the Habs have put together one of the league's best rosters. They shot out to an amazing start to the 2015-16 NHL season, but thanks largely to injuries to players like Brendan Gallagher and Carey Price, have fallen back to earth considerably in recent days.
They remain an elite squad though, and look very much like a serious Cup contender, assuming Price comes back healthy in the near future. Bergevin though, for all the talent he's amassed in Montreal, has yet to draft or acquire a true, elite No. 1 center.
Alex Galchenyuk has the talent, but not the consistency. Tomas Plekanec is a steady point-producer, but lacks the offensive spark of a top line center. And David Desharnais suffers from something that has plagued the Canadiens up front for several seasons now - small stature.
Johansen, at 6-foot-3, 203-pounds, would seemingly kill two birds with one well-placed stone for Bergevin and Co. He'd add much-needed size to the Canadiens forward corps at the same time as he'd represent a major infusion of talent and playmaking ability.
It's a deal that, on paper at least, certainly looks like a smart one for the Canadiens, should Kekalainen decide to pull the trigger. It won't be cheap though, and will likely cost Bergevin a pretty penny - and maybe a defenseman or two - to get it done.
