Insider Trading

Bob McKenzie and Darren Dreger were on Thursday's edition of TSN's Insider Trading.

McKenzie on Ryan Johansen and what the take is around the league on what will happen:

"Well, the real danger here is this thing is going to go right off the rails and the Blue Jackets could lose a very valuable guy and Johansen could really be hurting his career in the short-term by not being in training camp and maybe not starting the season with the team. 

"I've talked to a lot of National Hockey League general managers, as well as agents, who are watching this with maybe a little more detached coolness than the principals in Columbus and they say there's a deal to be made. And it's very much reference to the Matt Duchene bridge contract of a couple of years ago where Matt Duchene was in a similar situation, not exactly the same situation, but a similar situation that Ryan Johansen is going through. He got a two-year deal at $3.5 million.

"And the expectation is because the CBA has changed, the numbers are going to come up a little bit. Maybe the Blue Jackets will need to come up a little bit. The Blue Jackets are stuck at $3 million a year for a two-year deal and right now Johansen is stuck at $4.75 million on each of a two-year deal. The magic number seems to be somewhere around 3.5 to 3.75 in the eyes of those who don't have a dog in this fight. But they believe that if the deal is structured properly, a two-year deal like that could work."

Dreger on Todd Bertuzzi and if this could be the end of his career:

"It could. At 39, he's had a pretty decent career, I think, overall. But the reality is teams aren't looking for older players. They're looking to develop their own. But I'm told that he's in terrific shape. There was and has been interest from around the NHL, but nothing firm.

"So he continues to sit comfortably in a waiting mode, while also coaching his son Tag. So some of the interests away from the National Hockey League are pulling him, but he's still open-minded and wants to play."

McKenzie on officials' CBA negotiations:

"Very close to getting something done. It's not finalized yet."

Expectation is a deal will get done.

Dreger on video review; no helmet, no fight:

Focus moves to the front of the net for video review. Goalie interference, etc. Added support on offside. 

Preseason crackdown of existing rule where when a helmet is off for a fight, the fight stops.

Source: TSN/ Transcript, Notes: Nichols on Hockey