Ryan Johansen Retires After Stellar NHL Career with Predators and Beyond

Center Ryan Johansen, a key player for the Nashville Predators for eight seasons, has officially announced his retirement from professional hockey. The announcement came on Thursday, marking the end of a significant chapter in Johansen’s career that spanned 13 seasons in the NHL.

During his tenure in Nashville from 2015 to 2023, Johansen made a considerable impact on the ice. He accumulated 362 points, including 110 goals and 252 assists, across 533 regular-season games. In the playoffs, he contributed 48 points with 17 goals and 31 assists, playing a pivotal role in the Predators’ historic run to the Stanley Cup Final in 2017.

Throughout his NHL journey, Johansen played a total of 905 games and recorded 578 points, which included 202 goals and 376 assists, representing three teams: the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Nashville Predators, and the Colorado Avalanche. His point and assist totals place him sixth all-time for the Predators, and he shares the record for the fastest goal in franchise history, scoring just 11 seconds into a game, a feat he achieved alongside David Legwand.

Johansen’s career also saw him shine on the All-Star stage. In 2015, he participated in the NHL All-Star Game, where he was named MVP after notching two goals and two assists. That same season, he enjoyed a breakout year with the Columbus Blue Jackets, finishing with a career-high 71 points in 82 games.

Drafted fourth overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2010 NHL Draft, Johansen spent over four seasons in Columbus before being traded to Nashville during the 2015-16 season in exchange for defenseman Seth Jones. After his time with the Predators, he was traded to the Colorado Avalanche following the 2022-23 season for the rights to Alex Galchenyuk. He played 63 games with Colorado before being traded to the Philadelphia Flyers ahead of the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline, where he was later placed on waivers due to an unreported injury.

Johansen has not played a game since the 2023-24 season, but he will reportedly be honored by the Nashville Predators on March 28 when they face the Montreal Canadiens at Bridgestone Arena. His legacy in Nashville and the NHL will undoubtedly be remembered by fans and fellow players alike.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.