Columbus Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen said he hopes Ryan Johansen takes his recent benching in stride but noted "I' don't really care' if Johansen was unhappy playing in the AHL.
Johansen was a healthy scratch for Springfield during Game 4 of the AHL playoffs and coach Brad Larsen said he didn't feel like Johansen's level of play was where it needed to be. "I think this is probably going to be a disappointment [to him], to say the least, maybe even a bit embarrassing," said Kekalainen, who also noted the fourth overall pick in 2010 will have to earn an NHL spot in training camp next fall. Johansen played in 40 NHL games this season, scoring five goals and 12 points.

Ryan Johansen spent Game 4 of the AHL playoffs as a healthy scratch for Springfield.
He recorded one assist and a minus-8 rating in the first three games of the series in what ended up as a second-round sweep for Syracuse. "I just felt like his level of play wasn't where it needed to be," coach Brad Larsen said. "We talked after Game 2, and I tried to ramp him up. In Game 3, we just felt like he wasn't all there, like he wasn't invested 100 percent." He didn't require permission from the team's brass to scratch Johansen, but they understood and supported his decision. Johansen played better defensively down the stretch for the Blue Jackets, but he recorded just 12 points in 40 games.

With the Columbus Blue Jackets eliminated from postseason contention center Ryan Johansen will join the Springfield Falcons of the AHL to assist with their playoff chase.
Johansen made progress throughout the NHL season and will be a great asset for Springfield, who currently lead the Manchester Monarchs 1-0 in their opening round series.

Ryan Johansen didn't end up missing any playing time due to a lower body injury.
Johansen was considered questionable for Tuesday's contest, but still ended up logging 14:26 minutes. He also netted his third goal of the season at 5:05 of the second period.

Ryan Johansen returned to action on Tuesday April 9.

Ryan Johansen is dealing with a lower body injury.
Johansen is questionable for Tuesday's contest as a result. He has two goals and six assists in 31 games this season.

Coach Todd Richards continues to play Ryan Johansen against the opposing teams top lines.
Johansen was drafted fourth overall in the 2010 Draft as a playmaking center but has struggled at the NHL level as far as his offensive talent is concerned. But he has played very well defensively and Richards has not been afraid to use him in all situations. Richards has been using a balanced lineup and not putting all his offensive players on the top two lines and the results have shown it to be successful of late as the Blue Jackets had points in 11 straight games before losing Saturday. "On a good night, when all of the lines are going, you can make it hard on the other teams with matchups," Richards said. "Right now, those lines have been pretty sound defensively, and that has allowed us to have success." Look for Johansen to get it going offensively in the next couple of years. Do not forget, he is only 20.

In two games against the Vancouver Canucks this week, Ryan Johansen has been getting ample playing time against the Sedin twins.
That just highlights the level of trust Blue Jackets coach Todd Richards is putting in the Johansen. He's also been heating up offensively lately with a goal and five points in seven games this month.

Ryan Johansen is showing flashes of his outstanding talent that made him the fourth overall pick in the 2010 draft.
Johansen has struggled at the NHL level but fans should realize that he is still is only 20 years of age and has plenty of time to show his offensive prowess. He is showing his outstanding passing skills of late as a couple of passes have been eye-popping. "When you see those flashes, you get more hungry. You want to see them every shift," new GM Jarmo Kekalainen said. "The best player in every game sets the tempo for that game. That's the goal for him, too, to set the tempo and play on that level. It's all in his hands. Not many players are fortunate enough to have the skill, the size and the hockey sense that he has. He needs to realize, 'It's all up to me.'" It may now be a good time to pick up Johansen in keeper leagues despite only a goal and three points with a minus-nine rating in 14 games.

Ryan Johansen might get a chance to center the top line on Friday.
The Blue Jackets have their top-three centers on the sidelines in Artem Anisimov, Derick Brassard, and Brandon Dubinsky, with only Anisimov being a possibility to play Friday. This is a big opportunity for Johansen. Given his offensive upside, he might be worth grabbing depending on his Friday's game goes.

Ryan Johansen was called up from the minors on Sunday February 24.

Ryan Johansen had four shots on goal in the Blue Jackets' 1-0 loss to the Blackhawks on Sunday night.
Johansen, the fourth overall pick in the 2010 draft, has yet to score in 11 games this season. He also had three hits in 14:57. Columbus has high hopes for its skilled center, but at 20 years old, it may be a few years before he's a legitimate force in the NHL. Johansen has amassed 17 goals and 33 points in 40 AHL games this year, so the talent is certainly evident.

Center Ryan Johansen has been playing very well for the Blue Jackets' minor-league affiliate in Springfield with three goals and three assists in five games since being demoted.
But with the team in need of a player at the NHL level, Columbus passed on Johansen and instead recalled center Nick Drazenovic. "I want him to play and keep playing," president of hockey operations John Davidson said of Johansen. "There's no absolutes here about calling him up or not calling him up the rest of the way. We just want to see him playing well down there, and when the time is right we'll call on him."

Center Ryan Johansen has been playing very well for the Blue Jackets' minor-league affiliate in Springfield with three goals and three assists in five games since being demoted.
But with the team in need of a player at the NHL level, Columbus passed on Johansen and instead recalled center Nick Drazenovic. "I want him to play and keep playing," president of hockey operations John Davidson said of Johansen. "There's no absolutes here about calling him up or not calling him up the rest of the way. We just want to see him playing well down there, and when the time is right we'll call on him."

Ryan Johansen has been demoted to the minors by Columbus.
"He started strong, but we think his play has tailed off," said GM Scott Howson. "He looks like he's struggling offensively. This isn't all about getting points, it's about getting chances and making an impact offensive. I just think he's struggling confidence-wise offensively. We decided to send him down to find his game." Johansen has no goals on 21 shots and two assists in 10 games, in addition to a minus-5 rating. His 50.8 winning percentage on faceoffs is the best on the team. It's unclear how long this demotion will last, but it's to imagine it being for very long.

The play of Ryan Johansen has improved tremendously of late.
It's as if a light was turned on for the fourth overall pick in the 2010 draft as Johansen had struggled professionally before getting it together last month in Springfield. He started the NHL season on the fourth line as he did last season but has been the Blue Jackets top forward thus far. His role on the Blue Jackets should grow and he will eventually be their top pivot. Take him in all keeper pools and he should be considered in one year pools this year, especially with an expanded role in Columbus.

Ryan Johansen is becoming an integral part of the Blue Jackets offense.
Johansen picked up an assist in the Jackets 3-2 loss to Chicago Saturday and registered a team-high five shots in the losing effort. The center also won eight of the 14 face-offs he took in the game including a crucial draw late in the contest while goaltender Steve Mason was pulled for an extra attacker. Some patience is required, but Johansen presents a nice keeper league value.

Ryan Johansen already looks like a different player from the one he was a year ago.
Johansen was told to use his "extra gear" more and it finally clicked, as he won a job in training camp and was on a line with Nick Foligno and Vinny Prospal. "Ryan looks better," Blue Jackets coach Todd Richards said. "He looks stronger and faster on the ice. "I didn't really know what to expect from him in camp because I'd watched him play in Springfield in December and there were inconsistencies in his game. But he's noticeably different now. His level of battle and compete in scrimmages is something we haven't seen from him before." Expect more than 21 points from him this season.

Ryan Johansen moved up to the third line in practice Monday.
Johansen was on the fifth line Sunday and while it's still early even this season, this bodes well as fifth line players are on the bubble to make the team. Johansen really has to be a top-two center to make it worthwhile to keep him but the Blue Jackets are going with a top-nine and a bottom three which makes this move understandable. He played between Nick Foligno and Vaclav Prospal and replaced Mark Letestu who moved down to the fifth unit. Johansen has a lot of offensive upside as he was drafted with the fourth pick in the 2010 Draft and is a slick playmaker.