Former Nashville Predators center Ryan Johansen used Thursday’s episode of the Predators’ official team podcast to announce his retirement from the NHL after a 13-year profession. Johansen, the fourth overall pick of the 2021 NHL draft, exits the league with 905 games played and a 202-376—578 scoring line, ending because the sixth-highest scorer in Predators history with 362 points.
The NHL congratulated Johansen on his retirement via a post on X, referencing his time across the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Colorado Avalanche and Nashville.
“All the time a @PredsNHL💛 Ryan Johansen has announced his retirement after 13 seasons within the League,” the post read.
After being drafted by Columbus, Johansen initially struggled within the NHL, managing just 14 goals in his first 107 games. That modified dramatically in 2013-14, when he broke out with 33 goals and 63 points, leading Columbus to certainly one of only its early playoff appearances.
He followed that with a career-high 71-point season in 2014-15, earning a trade to the Predators in January 2016. He was subsequently named the 2015 NHL All-Star Game MVP.
Johansen had a blistering begin to life at Nashville as well. He drove the team to the 2017 Stanley Cup Final, scoring 13 points in 14 playoff games. That eventually resulted in an eight-year, $64 million deal, probably the most lucrative of the Canadian’s profession.
Across his tenure, he recorded 362 points (110 goals, 252 assists) in 533 games, including 48 playoff points in 61 games. At his best, Johansen delivered 4 consecutive 60-point seasons. Nevertheless, the eventual decline meant that he never reached the ceiling many thought he would.
Johansen also notably holds the record for the fastest goal scored in franchise history (11 seconds). Nevertheless, Johansen had a gradual fall off after putting pen to paper and was traded to Colorado for the ultimate two years of his contract in early 2023.
Nevertheless, he produced 13 goals and 23 points in 63 NHL games while averaging just over 13 minutes of ice time per game.