Nashville Predators Ryan Johansen Centering Success
The Nashville Predators number one center is putting points on the board, no matter what his critics may have to say about him.
Nashville Predators faithful remember the day well- it was near the midpoint of last season, and it would have been difficult for the Preds to put a more stagnant offense on the ice. So the front office pulled a trigger that shifted the landscape of the team- and the season.
Gone was former 4th overall draft pick and defenseman Seth Jones, replaced by center Ryan Johansen, a previous 4th overall draft pick in his own right. The move kick started the team’s scoring ability, leading to newfound franchise success in both point-streaks and playoff longevity.
But more recently, as the Nashville Predators struggled while opening up the 2016-17 season, Johansen’s critics found their voice. Accused of being a number of things, often including ‘soft’ and ‘lazy,’ detractors claimed that the 24-year-old was mislabeled as an elite forward. Indeed, some of them still claim this.
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The facts are, however, that RyJo has been as much a part of the team’s turnaround as anyone of the roster (save goaltender Pekka Rinne, who hands down earns highest honors in that regard).
Currently co-owning the team lead in points with winger Filip Forsberg, Johansen’s 16 points have come via 5 goals, 11 assists- numbers that have been boosted by his current tear of 7 points through the last 4 games, featuring a goal-per-game average across that stretch.
The impact of his play has spread firmly to his linemates as well. Top line wingers James Neal and Viktor Arvidsson are both on Joey’s heels with 15 and 14 points, respectively. Neal notched a November-high 9 goals through the month, and the explosive Arvidsson has grown to be a recognized force and fan favorite while playing a complementary style on Johansen’s wing.
Even with Joey seeing increased time on the penalty kill, he still stands at a +4 plus/minus rating, good for 5th on the team and behind only Austin Watson amongst forwards. That’s an indicator that he’s playing responsible hockey across all zones.
Sometimes his patient, deceptive play is confused for ‘not trying hard,’ particularly when he shares the ice with a speed-oriented fireball like Arvidsson. But while his impact and skill may not always be flashy, they are constantly a threat to the opposition (and when they are flashy, we are handed gems like the one below).
What he is, is a supremely talented individual who can produce against an opposing team’s top talent, and that’s what the Nashville Predators need. He has balanced the forward core, allowing 36-year-old centers Mike Fisher and Mike Ribeiro to take advantage of lesser competition, while improving Nashville’s talent and top-end quality.
With both restricted free agency and the expansion draft looming in the coming offseason, it would behoove the Nashville Predators to get a deal done that guarantees Ryan Johansen’s tenure in a gold jersey through the prime of his career. If successful, Smashville better get used to RyJo and Forsberg competing toe-to-toe for team lead in points, because we’ll be having years of it.