Jackets to take revenge on the Bruins via free-agent market!

Pending unrestricted free agent forward Marcus Johansson has received significant interest from numerous teams and it seems like one is coming in with an extra motive and motivation. 

The Columbus Blue Jackets have reportedly shown significant interest in Johansson, who gave them all kinds of trouble in the second-round series during the postseason. 

Signing Johansson to a lucrative deal might be the best payback from Columbus to Boston. 

However, let’s count out the Bruins. General manager Don Sweeney reiterated today that signing Johansson remains a top priority in Boston. 

Johansson made $4.75 million in salary this season and will likely command a deal worth north of $5 million per season. It remains to be seen if the 28-year-old is looking for a long-term contract or is willing to take a short-term deal.

The Bruins have just over $12 million in available salary cap space with pending restricted free agent forward Danton Heinen and defencemen Charlie McAvoy and Brandon Carlo left to sign. The Jackets have more room seeing that they aren’t in the running to re-sign coveted free agents Sergei Bobrovsky and Artemi Panarin. 

In 58 games with the New Jersey Devils and Bruins this season, Johansson tallied 13 goals and 17 assists for 30 points. He posted four goals and seven assists for 11 points in 22 playoffs games as the Bruins battled for the Stanley Cup.