THN.com/podcast. From THN American Pipeline: Beanpot, Michigan News and Predators Prospects Ryan Johansen [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MTk4ODk0NTY0MDg0Mjk1MDE5/usatsi_19643991.jpg] Ryan Johansen The Nashville Predators and Colorado Avalanche made a move one week away from the beginning of NHL free agency. The Predators parted with Ryan Johansen [https://puckpedia.com/player/ryan-johansen], trading him to the Colorado Avalanche for the rights of pending UFA Alex Galchenyuk [https://puckpedia.com/player/alex-galchenyuk]. Nashville's retaining 50 percent of Johansen's $8-million cap hit for the final two seasons of his contract. Johansen had some up-and-down years with the Predators over his eight seasons with them. Although the 30-year-old recorded a respectable 63 points in 79 games in the 2021-22 season, he recorded 12 goals and 28 points in 55 matches this year before suffering a season-ending surgery on his right leg in February. Since being drafted fourth overall in 2010 by the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Vancouver native has posted 555 points in 842 games between Columbus and Nashville. “Ryan is a talented, veteran center who helps our top six,” said Avalanche GM Chris MacFarland in a press release. “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.” Galchenyuk only played 11 NHL games this season for the Avalanche and didn't register a point, but he did record 42 points in as many games for the AHL Colorado Eagles. The 29-year-old from Milwaukee was taken third overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2012 NHL draft and has 354 points in 654 career regular-season NHL games split between the Habs, Arizona Coyotes, Pittsburgh Penguins, Minnesota Wild, Ottawa Senators, Toronto Maple Leafs and Avalanche. The Avalanche only had six healthy NHL forwards under contract, not including captain Gabriel Landeskog, who's expected to miss the 2023-24 season as he recovers from a procedure in his right knee. Now with 14 players on their active roster and $8,575,000 in cap space, according to PuckPedia [https://puckpedia.com/team/colorado-avalanche], only taking on half of Johansen's cap hit felt like a calculated risk worth taking if the center can stay healthy and thrive somewhere in Colorado's top two lines. They need to find more forwards, though, with J.T. Compher [https://puckpedia.com/player/jt-compher] among six UFAs up front and Alex Newhook [https://puckpedia.com/player/alex-newhook] being one of three RFAs. Nashville, meanwhile, clears $4 million in cap space as the team looks to bring in new faces ahead of next season. The Predators already traded defenseman Mattias Ekholm and forward Nino Niederreiter at the trade deadline in March, and they have an incoming GM in Barry Trotz taking over longtime manager David Poile's position. They also have a new coach coming in with Andrew Brunette. The Predators now have 20 players on their roster with about $17 million in cap space, per PuckPedia [https://puckpedia.com/team/nashville-predators]. They also have young forwards poised for a breakout, such as 21-year-olds Philip Tomasino and Luke Evangelista and 22-year-old Juuso Parssinen. Saturday's trade affords them the opportunity to keep goaltender Juuse Saros [https://puckpedia.com/player/juuse-saros] and his $5-million cap hit for the next two seasons if the Predators would rather look toward free agency or weaponize cap space to gather assets in a retool. However, if the right offer comes up for the 28-year-old netminder that helps the team take a significant step forward toward a promising future, it's a move worth completing. It's uncertain at this point whether the Predators choose to offer Galchenyuk a new contract, but they have a week until the opening of free agency on July 1 at noon ET to negotiate before the forward can speak to other teams. Needless to say, this off-season has already had some interesting trades to discuss, and we're still only just getting started.
