By signing Johansen, the Predators have secured their top line for at least the next five seasons. They signed wingFilip Forsberg to a six-year, $36 million contract June 27, 2016, and wing Viktor Arvidsson to a seven-year, $29.75 million contract July 22.
Johansen, who has 288 points (101 goals, 187 assists) in 433 NHL games, and 27 points (nine goals, 18 assists) in 34 playoff games, is the oldest player on the line; Forsberg turns 23 on Aug. 13, and Arvidsson is 24.
"I think it's fantastic," Nashville general manager David Poile said. "This was kind of the goal in planning for the offseason. We've got our whole core signed up, a lot of guys for a lot of years. Hopefully, we've chosen correctly. I believe we've chosen correctly. The thing that not only impressed me with the winning last year was also the closeness of the team. Our coaching staff has done a remarkable job. I think [Johansen] would echo that they feel confident in the coaches and the direction that they're giving, and I think our room is a very close room, so I thought it was in my best interest and our team's best interest if I could get the bulk of our team locked up for a long time so that they could play together for a long time.
"Here we go. We've got possibly one of the best, if not the best, lines in the League if coach [Peter] Laviolette decides to play [Johansen] with Arvidsson and Forsberg. But we've got another guy entering into this with Scott Hartnell this year, a former Predator now back, and he's told the coach that he had great chemistry with [Johansen]. So we might have to double-shift him."