Johnson’s situation has markedly improved
Jack Johnson and his wife were “ready for anything” Monday as they sat at home waiting to learn his fate. The 3 p.m. trade deadline came and passed, and Johnson was still a Blue Jackets defenseman.
“It just gives you some clarity on your future,” Johnson said. “You know you’re not going to have to pack up and move between now and the end of the season.”
Johnson, a pending unrestricted free agent, had asked the Jackets to trade him, but said Monday his situation in Columbus has improved.
“Since Christmas, I really feel like I’ve been playing well,” Johnson said. “I’ve been getting some more ice (time). Things have been going well for quite a bit (of time) here.”
General manager Jarmo Kekalainen said the Jackets would only trade Johnson “if it made a lot of sense for the future” of the Jackets. If not, “we would rent him to ourselves.”
Kekalainen noted Monday, “there’s still a possibility that (Johnson) would want to stay here” beyond this season. Said Johnson, “I don’t think I’m a guy to burn bridges. …The door’s always been open. No one has ever closed any doors.”
Moving pieces
Nathan Gerbe was assigned to AHL Cleveland while fellow forwards Sonny Milano and Markus Hannikainen were recalled. Milano scored a goal — his first for the Jackets since Dec. 29 — in his first NHL action since Jan. 8, and played on a line with Alexander Wennberg and Josh Anderson.
Mark Letestu, acquired in a trade Sunday, centered Lukas Sedlak and Matt Calvert on the fourth line. His immigration issues were resolved before the game.
In a minor-league trade, the Jackets received Ryan Kujawinski from the Coyotes and sent back fellow center Jordan Maletta. Kujawinski was assigned to Cleveland, which traded Carter Camper to the Coyotes’ AHL affiliate.
Chorney ‘gets screwed’
Defenseman Taylor Chorney was slated to make his Jackets debut against his former team, but coach John Tortorella, who said Sunday that Chorney would be in the lineup, chose instead to give Ian Cole, acquired in a trade Monday, his first action with Columbus.
“Chorns gets screwed,” Tortorella said.
Slap shots
Letestu received a loud ovation when he was shown on the video board early in the game, and acknowledged the applause with a quick wave. He got an even bigger ovation when he scored in the first period. … Tortorella said Tyler Motte, sent to Vancouver in the deal for Thomas Vanek, was “inconsistent” for the Jackets, but will eventually be a “solid” NHL player.