Blue Jackets president John Davidson on Ryan Johansen: 'Everybody's tradable'

Blue Jackets center Ryan Johansen returned to the lineup Saturday after being a healthy scratch in the last game, but for how long will he remain in Columbus?

The question has become a logical one to ask since John Tortorella was hired as head coach Oct. 21. Team President John Davidson declined to protect his player in comments to The Columbus Dispatch on Friday, making it seem as if the organization views Johansen in the same ways it views any player, and not as one you'd want to build around.

"The situation is, we're in a position where we're trying to upgrade our team. If we can make a deal, I don't care who it is, we're sitting at the bottom of the heap right now," Davidson told the newspaper.

"Unless the contract stipulates otherwise, everybody's tradable. That's hockey. It could be (Johansen) or it could be anybody else. If we feel it's the right deal, we make the deal."

Johansen was benched in Tortorella's first game with the Blue Jackets and then was called out because Tortorella didn't think he was in shape. Johansen stayed glued to the bench for the end of the second and entire third period Tuesday, a 5-1 loss to the Dallas Stars. Tortorella then sat him for Thursday's game. Johansen was back in Saturday against the Philadelphia Flyers after Tortorella said he had "reset" after "bad habits" had crept into his game, according to The Columbus Dispatch.

"When Joey’s not playing as well as we’ve seen him play in the past, or when Joey is benched, people phone us," Davidson said. "You always answer the phone; that’s our job. And if something makes sense, no matter who it is … I’m not going to point just at Joey. This goes for anybody right now: If it makes sense, we’ll do it."

The Blue Jackets are 12-19-3 and in the midst of a disastrous season that had started with so much hope after the 2014-15 season derailed because of injuries. Johansen, an All-Star last season and the team's most talented player, represents one of the NHL's up-and-coming stars. There will be no shortage of teams clamoring for his services.

Johansen has 79 goals and 189 points in 302 games. He is in the second season of a three-year, $12 million contract that pays him $3 million this year and $6 million in 2016-17.