Ryan Johansen has complicated history with new coach

The trade deadline in the world of hockey has a history of surprising both fans and executives. People often question why teams would make a specific move. This was evident when the Colorado Avalanche traded Ryan Johansen to the Philadelphia Flyers last Friday.

During a conversation on the 32 Thoughts podcast, Insider Elliotte Friedman revealed that the 31-year-old center and him have had a complicated history. He shared that he and Cutter Gauthier have the same agent, and he is the college player's "Family Advisor," which led to some hard feelings between them.


However, in the NHL, as in any profession, a certain level of professionalism is required most of the time. Sometimes a very fine line needs to be followed, particularly in a coach/player relationship. When there is a clash of some sort, whether it's a personality conflict or something else, coexisting isn't always possible. At that point, it's often best to cut your losses and move on from the situation.


It takes a certain type of player to play for John Tortorella, and in this case, it's likely not Ryan Johansen. Whether he will continue to play with Philadelphia's affiliate, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, or find his way back onto a National Hockey League team for the remainder of the 2023-2024 season remains to be seen.