Avalanche acquires Ryan Johansen from Predators

The Colorado Avalanche Hockey Club announced today that the team has acquired forward Ryan Johansen from the Nashville Predators in exchange for forward Alex Galchenyuk.

Johansen, 30, has recorded 555 points (189 goals, 366 assists) in 842 NHL games during his 12-year career with the Columbus Blue Jackets and Nashville Predators. The 6-foot-3, 218-pound center has added 54 points (19g/35a) in 67 career playoff contests.

"Ryan is a talented, veteran center who helps our top six," said Avalanche General Manager Chris MacFarland. "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."

This past season (2022-23), the Vancouver, B.C., native recorded 28 points (12g/16a) in 55 games for the Predators while missing the final 27 contests following right leg surgery. Johansen departs Nashville as the sixth-highest scoring player in franchise history with 362 points (110g/252a) in 533 contests. His 48 postseason points (17g/31a) in 61 playoff contests rank second in franchise history.

Selected by Columbus with the fourth overall pick in the first round of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, Johansen has surpassed the 20-goal mark on three occasions, which included a career-best 33 tallies with the Jackets in 2013-14, and has hit the 60-point mark six times. He has appeared in all 82 games on three occasions and has won 53.4% of his career faceoffs. Johansen was the MVP of the 2014-15 NHL All-Star Game.

In 2021-22, Johansen finished third on the Predators in goals (26) and fifth in points (63). His 26 goals were his most since 2014-15 (26) and he potted a career-high 11 power-play tallies. Johansen made his NHL debut with the Blue Jackets on Oct. 7, 2011 against the Predators and scored his first career goal, the game-winner, on Oct. 25, 2011 against Detroit.

Johansen notched 13 points (3g/10a) in 14 postseason games for Nashville during the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs before being sidelined with a leg injury sustained in Game 4 of the Western Conference Final against the Anaheim Ducks. He required surgery and was unable to play during the Cup Final.

Prior to his NHL career, Johansen was named to the WHL West First All-Star Team with the Portland Winterhawks in 2010-11 and earned a silver medal with Team Canada at the 2011 IIHF World Junior Championship.