The trade that sent then Ottawa Senators Dion Phaneuf and Nate Thompson to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for Marian Gaborik and Nick Shore was a move that excited the hockey world.
Why? Because people were finally willing to make deals ahead of the trade deadline.
Phaneuf has three years remaining on his deal, and it will take him until he is 36 years old. He presents a cautionary tale and possibly a road map for what the Columbus Blue Jackets could get in a trade for unrestricted free agent-to-be Jack Johnson.
Johnson asked for a trade from the Blue Jackets when he realized he wasn't going to be re-signing with the team (and his role decreased). He would like to get a big ticket for his next contract, and the Blue Jackets weren't willing to meet the number he and his agent were suggesting, so here we are.
So, what number are they looking at possibly? Looking at prior contracts, he compares more towards Paul Martin and Kris Russell than he does to Dion Phaneuf. That would place Johnson somewhere between a $4 million and $5 million AAV (average annual value) on his next contract.
It isn't a number the Blue Jackets can afford, given the restricted free agents that are coming up and the unrestricted free agents that will need decisions made on their status (i.e. Matt Calvert).
Oddly, out of recent trades that would fit the mold for Johnson, the Jordie Benn trade to the Montreal Canadiens is the closest comparable. Benn wasn't going into unrestricted free agency, but his underlying numbers and pure stats are similar to that of Johnson. Their usage and ice time is close as well. Benn fetched a fourth-round pick and forward Greg Pateryn in the deal.
If the reports surrounding Johnson's trade price of a first-round pick are accurate, the Blue Jackets need to hop on it while the getting is good. In addition to the report about an offer, the Blue Jackets are reportedly looking for a forward in exchange rather than a pick. That complicates matters more, but when push comes to shove, the first-round pick would be too good to pass up.
For teams looking at Johnson during free agency, they need to look at Phaneuf and what he has done during his big-ticket contract. Not many defenseman age well when they hit their 30s, and it doesn't appear that Johnson – at least in pure stats – is aging gracefully, either.
He may be worth a bet at the deadline, but if Johnson is looked at as a long-term solution for any team this summer, they're looking in the wrong place. Buyer beware.
Follow 1st Ohio BatteryFacebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube
