Johansen played 55 games before his season ending injury on February 21. How does the 30 year old center fit into Nashville's future?

The story of the Nashville Predator's 2022-2023 season was one of change. The Predators struggled to put together consistent play through the first half of the season, lost important veteran players to significant injuries, sold off key pieces at the trade deadline, and watched as young players battled and fell just short in the playoff race. 

One of those veteran players who had to watch the team compete down the stretch from the sidelines was Ryan Johansen. Johansen suffered a season ending injury on February 21 in a game against the Vancouver Canucks after being cut by a skate blade. 

At the locker cleanout press conference on Sunday, Johansen shared more about the injury and his recovery. 

"It was just kind of a creepy injury," Johansen said of the cut he suffered after Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes accidentally clipped him with his skate blade. 

The Predators' center didn't realize at first how significant the injury was. 

"I didn't even know how big the cut was. I knew nothing. I was thinking I got a little slice, get stitched up, and get back out there."

Johansen said it was a few minutes later when he realized that the skate blade had cut two tendons above his ankle. Johansen underwent surgery and was unable to return for the remainder of the season. 

That's not to say that the Vancouver native hasn't been busy. He has been focused on extensive rehabbing and what lies ahead on his road to recovery. If all goes well, Johansen hopes to transition to an ankle brace in a few weeks and start skating by mid-May.

While there is never a good time for a serious injury, Johansen's setback comes at a crucial time for both player and franchise. The Nashville Predators are in transition as they spend the offseason evaluating their roster and, with plenty of draft capital and cap space, potentially adding pieces in what outgoing GM David Poile calls a "resetting". 

Johansen used the words "inspired" and "proud" to describe how he felt seeing the young players come into the lineup and battle in the last twenty games of the season, but he also knows those same players will be his competition when it comes to next season. 

"We have a lot of competition with this group," Johansen said. "We've got a lot of young kids now who proved they can play, and then we got a lot of older guys like myself that are gonna say 'Hold on, it's not your time yet, or are you going to take it, take my job?' We're going to have that fun competition within a good team where we're constantly pushing each other to do the best we can."

The pressure to compete will be on Johansen as young players like Cody Glass and Tommy Novak performed impressively down the stretch for the Predators. 

On Monday, incoming GM Barry Trotz remarked on this competition and what it means for veteran players like Johansen. 

"There's a closer divide between your talented older players and the young players. The older players may not get some of the minutes that they did in the past."

Johansen is a big, talented player who excels at faceoffs, leading the Predators in faceoff wins and ranking eighth best in the league in the circle this season. And while he is primarily a playmaker for his line mates, Johansen's shooting percentage has been the best on the team over the last two seasons. With his Liam Neeson-like "very particular set of skills" and an encouraging prognosis after his injury, what exactly does Barry Trotz want to see from the center in the offseason and training camp?

"Joey's going to have to have his best summer," Trotz said frankly. "The league is getting quicker. Joey's a skillful player. He's got lots of things to offer, but the game is getting quicker and he's not. That's not one of his strengths. So how do you get that half second back?"

"Right now he's chasing the moving train a little bit," Trotz continued. "He can catch it, but he's going to have to have a really good summer, and then his play coming into training camp will dictate his role as far as how far up the lineup he plays or how far down the lineup he plays."

The challenge to rehab and re-earn his spot in the line up lies ahead for Johansen, but it may not be any less daunting that the challenge Trotz may face if he decides to try and move the 30 year old center. With two years remaining on his contract and an $8 million dollar AAV, it could take some crafting to put together a deal that doesn't involve salary retention or using up some of that valuable draft capital David Poile amassed at the trade deadline. 

There is also the "off ice" factor that may weigh heavily in Johansen's favor. During the stretch of inconsistent play before the trade deadline, the team held a very frank meeting to talk about their situation. Johansen was the person that other locker room leaders Matt Duchene and captain Roman Josi and head coach John Hynes pointed to as speaking up and having an impact on the team. As one of the veterans, his voice carries a lot of weight, and he has leaned into that role during his injury and rehab, encouraging the young players and helping to set a tone among the team. 

"For me, just being a fan and supporting everyone in our group and just bringing energy to the rink," Johansen said of his role since February 21. 

What happens in this next chapter with Ryan Johansen and the Predators remains to be seen, but he is not shying away from the challenge ahead. 

"It's going to be one of those offseason where there's no time to sit back."

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