Third Line Center option may have just become available
On Tuesday afternoon, Sportsnet reported that the Philadelphia Flyers were in the process of terminating the contract of one of their forwards and if the Toronto Maple Leafs due their due diligence, they may find their third line center.
In the report, Sportsnet stated that the Flyers were in the process of terminating the contract of the 32-year old center Ryan Johansen and he could be just what the Toronto Maple Leafs need.
There is the possibility of red flags that would follow Johansen as the article states due to a material breach and one of the best insiders, Elliotte Friedman posted that the players camp would be looking to grieve the termination.
Originally drafted by the Columbus Blue Jackets fourth overall in the 2010 draft, he was once thought of as a future dominant power center. Johansen returned to the Western Hockey League after the draft, but rather than going back for an additional season the Blue Jackets elected to keep him on the roster the entire season where he would collect 21-points in 67 games. Following that first season he split the year between the American Hockey League and Columbus where he would put up 12-points in 40 games.
The Vancouver born center would break out in his 21-year old season collecting 33-goals and 63-points, followed by a 71-point season a year later. Midway through his fifth year with the Columbus Blue Jackets he was traded to the Nashville Predators for Seth Jones. In Nashville, Johansen proved to be a contributing second line center recording 60-points three times over eight years.
Johansen could be primed for a bounce back season
Johansen would remain in Nashville until the summer of 2023 when Barry Trotz took over as general manager and cleaned house to change the franchise into his own. Trotz cut the salary that Johansen had attached to him by giving him to the Colorado Avalanche for Alex Galchenyuk.
The Avalanche thought they had found their second-line centre, but they were wrong because Johansen was terrible. In fact, he's finished a season with an expected goals rating above 50% just once in the last five years.
The Flyers acquired Johansen at the trade deadline this past March, along with a first round pick in exchange for Sean Walker. It appeared as though he was going to be sent to the Flyers AHL affiliate, however, after being acquired by Philadelphia he was reported to have a hip injury and never played a game in the organization.
If the Maple Leafs can find out that he is healthy and does not bring baggage, Johansen could be a solid third line center which is something the team needs. If he were to come to Toronto on a league minimum deal, he could end up being a great value addition.
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The former first round pick is a 6'3" right handed shot center that has 578-points in just over 900 games and has always been one of the better face off men in the league. Johansen is also just two seasons departed from a 63-point year in 2022.