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Time to comment about the Ryan Johansen contract situation. First off, I am a Johansen owner in the UHL. The UHL is a fantasy league comprised of some of Dobber Nation’s finest contributors and a league where you have to bring your A-game to each draft and each trade offer. The whole Johansen situation is a real pain in my fantasy butt because it's really limiting my options as far as making moves. Our league follows the NHL's salary cap and right now, like many Johansen owners in a salary league, I am in a holding pattern. I have budgeted 6M for Johansen this year and have the space but it sure would be nice to know just how much he's going to make so I can try and strengthen other areas.

This whole situation has turned into quite a mess and everyone in this mess has a role to play. The agent's job is to get as much money for the client as he possibly can. The GM's role is to get the player signed for a reasonable contract (both money and term) without over spending the owner's money. Both sides have an agenda and both are sticking to their guns and I have no issue with that. 

My axe to grind is towards everyone who thinks this is all on Johansen's shoulders. I don't begrudge any player for trying to make as much money as they possibly can. It's a business, not only for the owners but from the player's side too. For those who didn't read the Damien Cox piece on Sportsnet.ca, take a couple minutes.

He makes some excellent points.

I can appreciate the Blue Jackets side as well. Most are looking at Duchene's bridge deal and trying to use it as a precedence but that was a few years ago. Salaries have gone up since then and to use a contract that was signed at the end of the 2011/12 season as a comparison is a bit weak.

Either way, we'd like to see this cleared up sooner rather than later. The kid is the future for Columbus.

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We are just over two weeks until the NHL regular season starts up. Training camps are up and running and we are getting a good look at some of the young kids. I am still a big believer that a few from this year's draft class will stick with the big clubs coming out of training camp. Guys like Ekblad, Draisaitl and Reinhart have a real good chance of sticking. Another name that I think has a real good chance of sticking with the big club is first-round pick David Pastrnak in Boston. He "tweaked" his shoulder this week and was held out of the teams "black vs white" scrimmage on Sunday but has really impressed thus far. We all know the Bruins are shallow on the wings and don't have much cap to spend. I honestly believe Pastrnak, if healthy, has a real legit shot of making that club. Hopefully the shoulder injury isn't serious.

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That's a wrap for my first column. Feel free to comment, good or bad. I'd love to hear your feedback towards anything I write. Also, if you have an "Axe to Grind", shoot me a PM on the forum and let's hear it.