Oh man, this just keeps getting better.
On the heels of emerging reports that unsigned Columbus Blue Jackets RFA forward Ryan Johansen has begun fielding offers from KHL teams comes news that his agent, Kurt Overhardt, today offered a warning to the team about the sniping going on in the media. (Ironically, he did it via the media. Go figure).
The Columbus Dispatch reported that during an interview today on Sirius/XM's NHL Network Radio, Overhardt had a few choice words for the Columbus front office.
"I think we're all responsible for our actions," Overhardt said. "I'm into self-reliance. On a day-by-day basis, I'm in a merit industry. If I do a good job for my clients, I retain my clients and I get new clients. The only reason this relationship would be damaged is because of actions by the organization. We will do nothing to damage the relationship. We have done nothing to damage the relationship. We've made ourselves readily available to work on this matter and to close this matter out so the player can continue playing.
"The only damage that'd be done will come from management. There is a point ... there can be a tipping point, if there continues to be deragatory comments, negative comments, continuous drawing lines in the sand ... it just, it doesn't make sense. If you think about doing that in a public forum, I mean, what's the purpose? If we spent our energies - or if the other side would spend their energy -- on focusing on getting a deal done, rather than getting in front of a microphone, I'm certain that a contract can be done."
Columbus has consistently said that, though it may not understand or agree with the tactics employed by Johansen and Overhardt, it harbors no ill will towards the opposite side of what they consider a purely business issue.
Overhardt seems to feel differently.
Meanwhile, ESPN's Pierre LeBrun is hearing that Overhardt and Johansen have actually lowered their contract demands from, "$6 million plus a year" to something in the neighborhood of "less than $5 million per year."
The latest word from Columbus' side is an offer of $3 million per year over two years, so the gap has closed slightly between the two sides.
Either way, though, this soap opera of a contract dispute has finally gone from gentle media truth massaging to all out, "you better watch your mouth".
Frankly, as noted in an earlier article today, it doesn't seem that Johansen or Overhardt really have all that much leverage here. But they've painted themselves into a corner and it surely won't look good for Overhardt if he backs down now.
Similarly, the Blue Jackets can't give in and risk setting a dangerous precedent for any and all future contract negotiations.
