"Yahoooo!"
Randall Johansen's text message earlier this week to a Tri-City News' reporter summed it all up after he learned his son, Ryan, was being retained for what appears the rest of the NHL season by the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Following a Tuesday practice, Port Moody product Ryan Johansen met with Blue Jackets general manager Scott Howson and head coach Scott Arniel and got the information for which he was hoping -- that he made it through the 10-game threshold as opposed to being sent back to his major junior squad, the WHL Portland Winterhawks.
"It was after practice, we had a little workout and then I was hanging out in the [players'] lounge," Ryan told BlueJackets.com. "Howson pulled me into Arniel's office and it was just the two of them. Arniel had a smile on his face so I kind of knew it was going to be a positive outcome.
"They told me I was staying and they think I can help the team win games."
The fourth overall pick by the Blue Jackets in the 2010 NHL entry draft, Johansen has been hot of late, scoring twice in his last four games. Both of his tallies proved the game winner in both of Columbus's victories in 12 games thus far -- 3-1 Sunday over the Anaheim Ducks and 4-1 Oct. 25 versus the Detroit Red Wings.
With the game knotted 1-1 Sunday, the 19-year-old Johansen split the defence, looked off his winger on an odd-man rush and craftily chipped a backhand inside the post on Anaheim goalie Dan Ellis's blocker side.
It was a true goal-scorer's goal, unlike his first one that he banked in off Detroit goalie Ty Conklin from behind the Red Wings' cage. Arniel credits Johansen's recent improved play to his work ethic and being switched from centre to right wing.
"I finally saw his offence," Arniel said. "On the wing, so far it's less thinking for him and a simpler game. Now we're seeing some of the stuff we saw in junior hockey and it's a good sign."
