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Nashville Predators trade veteran center Ryan Johansen in cost-cutting move

AP photo by Mark Zaleski / Nashville Predators center Ryan Johansen skates during the first period of a home game against the Arizona Coyotes on Feb. 13. Johansen, who has played for the Predators since January 2016 and helped lead them to the Stanley Cup Final in 2017, was traded Saturday to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for forward Alex Galchenyuk, who will become a free agent on July 1.
AP photo by Mark Zaleski / Nashville Predators center Ryan Johansen skates during the first period of a home game against the Arizona Coyotes on Feb. 13. Johansen, who has played for the Predators since January 2016 and helped lead them to the Stanley Cup Final in 2017, was traded Saturday to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for forward Alex Galchenyuk, who will become a free agent on July 1. AP photo by Mark Zaleski / Nashville Predators center Ryan Johansen skates during the first period of a home game against the Arizona Coyotes on Feb. 13. Johansen, who has played for the Predators since January 2016 and helped lead them to the Stanley Cup Final in 2017, was traded Saturday to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for forward Alex Galchenyuk, who will become a free agent on July 1.

By The Associated Press 2 min read

NASHVILLE — The Colorado Avalanche have filled their void at second-line center by acquiring Ryan Johansen from the Nashville Predators.

Colorado sent pending free agent Alex Galchenyuk to Nashville on Saturday in a trade that essentially amounts to a contract dump but could help the 2022 Stanley Cup champions get back on top of the NHL.

“Ryan is a talented, veteran center who helps our top six (forward group),” Avalanche general manager Chris MacFarland said. “He gives us size in the middle of the ice and brings leadership and experience to our roster. We look forward to adding him to our team.”

The move is a big splash for the Avalanche, who lost to the Seattle Kraken in the first round of the playoffs this year. They recently learned team captain Gabriel Landeskog would miss the entire 2023-24 season while recovering from cartilage replacement surgery in his right knee.

Johansen, who turns 31 in July, steps into the role previously filled by Nazem Kadri, who left after Colorado won the Stanley Cup last summer to sign a $49 million, seven-year contract with the Calgary Flames. Johansen is on the back half of his career, having put up 28 points in 55 games this past season, but he has the potential to produce with skilled linemates on the Avalanche.

The deal is also coming at a bargain cost, as the rebuilding Predators are retaining half of Johansen’s $8 million salary cap hit in each of the next two seasons. It’s the first significant roster move by new Nashville general manager Barry Trotz, who also fired coach John Hynes and replaced him with Andrew Brunette.

“On behalf of the Predators organization, we want to thank Ryan for his contributions to our team and community over the last seven-plus years,” Trotz said. “He played a large role in our franchise’s accomplishments since arriving in January 2016, helping lead us to the 2017 Stanley Cup Final, the 2018 Presidents’ Trophy, back-to-back Central Division titles in 2018 and 2019 and several postseason appearances.”

NHL free agency begins this year on July 1.