Johansen aims to be playoff contributor, not cheerleader, for Predators

Ryan Johansen's 11-month journey from sidelined cheerleader to on-ice leader is the stuff of inspiration for the Nashville Predators.
"We missed him after he got hurt in the [Western Conference Final] last year," Predators defenseman P.K. Subban said. "But he's replaced his crutches with a stick and man, is that nice to see.
"It's been a great boost for us."

Johansen, 25, has become a rallying point for the Predators as they prepare to begin the Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Colorado Avalanche in Game 1 of the Western Conference First Round at Bridgestone Arena on Thursday (9:30 p.m. ET; NBCSN, SN, TVAS, FS-TN). The forward was fourth on the Predators with 54 points (15 goals, 39 assists) in 79 games this season.
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"I'm just thankful to get another shot at this," Johansen said. "I just want to play my part and help our team make the most of the chance we have for success."
Johansen was on his way to doing that very thing during the 2017 playoffs, with 13 points (three goals, 10 assists) in 14 games. But his Stanley Cup aspirations were crushed when he was checked against the boards by Anaheim Ducks defenseman Josh Manson in the second period of Game 4 of the conference final on May 18, 2017.
Though he finished the game, the throbbing in his left leg continued to escalate. By the time he'd gone into the shower after Nashville's 3-2 overtime victory, he said he felt like the leg was going to "explode."
Johansen needed emergency surgery for an acute compartment syndrome of the left thigh, an injury that can cause nerve and muscle damage because of pressure decreasing blood supply.
As difficult as his situation was, his support of the Predators never wavered. Nor did theirs for him.
To that end, the Nashville players waited for the injured forward to hobble over on crutches to join them on the ice for the celebratory photo following a series-clinching 6-3 victory against the Ducks in Game 6. The win put them in the Stanley Cup Final, where they lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins in six games.

Ruled out for the remainder of the playoffs, Johansen did his part, leading fans in towel waving at home games. He even was named honorary mayor of Nashville on June 5.
He said that through it all he felt helpless at not being able to support his teammates on the ice. But he can now.
"He's dialed in and that's great to see, given what happened to him in last year's playoffs," coach Peter Laviolette said. "He's a force for us and we're happy to have him back."
In Johansen's mind, it's time for redemption.
"On a personal level, the injury was devastating for sure," he said. "Your whole life you dream about playing in the NHL and winning a Stanley Cup. And then literally, days before we had our opportunity to play for the Cup, I went down. But it's part of the game. I embraced the situation watching those guys go out there.
"And now, come the playoffs again, it's becoming a motivating time for myself to get back to that situation and being recognized as a first-line center playing for the Cup against the best players in the world. It's an anxious time and fun time for our group and as an individual."
Johansen is counted on to do more than just produce offense. Laviolette often uses him against the opposition's best forwards, and that should continue with Johansen playing significant head-to-head minutes against Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon, especially in Nashville, where the Predators have the last line change.

"For [Johansen], no one talks about it a lot but I think he should be in the conversation for the Selke Trophy (awarded to the top defensive forward)," Subban said. "I thought that last year at times. This year too. I don't know what people are looking at, but he does it for us every night, whether it's on the penalty kill, face-offs, whatever.
"He's a really big part of our team. You know how hard it is in this League to be a centerman and he's one of the best."
Johansen feels the Predators have the makings to be the best. He'd like to help repay the fans for their unbridled support last spring by helping Nashville win the Stanley Cup this time around.
"Their backing was incredible, both for me and the team," he said. "It was almost like they were injured with me. That's what makes it so special to be playing in Nashville for the Preds right now.
"So far we've been lucky when it comes to injuries so we're knocking on wood. We know how tough it is to make a deep run, but we feel we have a really deep team that can do it."