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Red Wings: Which Central Division Teams Have Bad Contracts to Deal?

By Alex Faber

EDMONTON, ALBERTA - AUGUST 15: Erik Johnson #6 of the Colorado Avalanche checks Taylor Hall #91 of the Arizona Coyotes during the first period in Game Three of the Western Conference First Round during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on August 15, 2020 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/Getty Images)
EDMONTON, ALBERTA - AUGUST 15: Erik Johnson #6 of the Colorado Avalanche checks Taylor Hall #91 of the Arizona Coyotes during the first period in Game Three of the Western Conference First Round during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on August 15, 2020 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/Getty Images) /
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Nashville Predators

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – MAY 21: Ryan Johansen #92 of the Nashville Predators controls the puck in the second period against the Carolina Hurricanes in Game Three of the First Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bridgestone Arena on May 21, 2021 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – MAY 21: Ryan Johansen #92 of the Nashville Predators controls the puck in the second period against the Carolina Hurricanes in Game Three of the First Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bridgestone Arena on May 21, 2021 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

Ryan Johansen – 4 Year, $8 Million (Cap Hit Per Year)

Johansen is not necessarily a bad player; he’s an alternate captain and isn’t terrible as a depth center. But $8 million is an awful lot for a player of that caliber. Similar to teammate Matt Duchene, Johansen was over payed by the Predators in an attempt to find a number one center. Neither panned out.

Johansen nabbed just 22 points in 45 games as the team’s highest paid player (His $8 million is tied with Duchene’s for the highest). While the Predators have a good amount of cap space, Johansen might be shipped out to really jumpstart the rebuild or give the team more room to work in the offseason. Although the organization seems willing to carry on with the current core (“Retool” not “Rebuild”), there’s a chance they move on from Johansen to free up some space for free agency. Getting a contract like this off the books would be very expensive, whether it be by buyout or a trade. If Yzerman absorbs a lengthy term like this, it’ll have to come along with some premium draft picks.

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