News broke early Saturday morning from The Athletic’s Aaron Portzline that Columbus Blue Jackets’ alternate captain Jack Johnson has requested a trade from the club.
From Portzy’s article:
Jack Johnson, citing a dramatically diminished role this season and a desire to better position himself for free agency in the summer, has asked the Blue Jackets to be traded, sources have confirmed to The Athletic.
The veteran defenseman would not comment on the report when asked by The Athletic after the Blue Jackets’ 5-2 loss to Vancouver on Friday. His agent, Pat Brisson, would not discuss the report publicly.
Portzline also reports that the Jackets were close to reaching an extension agreement with Johnson this past summer, and all but infers Johnson’s decision is based on having been jumped in the lineup by Seth Jones, Zach Werenski and Markus Nutivaara, among others.
Johnson was acquired by the Jackets from Los Angeles in February of 2012 in the deal that sent Jeff Carter to LA. Now in his seventh season in Columbus, Johnson has accumulated 150 points (35 goals, 115 assists) and this year has logged a career low in TOI (19:24) in 46 games this year.
Johnson appeared in all 82 regular season games last year for the Jackets.
This is a developing story.