Ryan Johansen Ryan Johansen ( born July 31 , 1992 ) is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre with the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League ( NHL ) . Growing up , he played minor hockey in the Greater Vancouver area until joining the junior ranks with the Penticton Vees of the British Columbia Hockey League ( BCHL ) for one season . In 2009 – 10 , he moved to the major junior level with the Portland Winter Hawks of the Western Hockey League ( WHL ) . After his first WHL season , he was selected fourth overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft . Internationally , he has competed for the Canadian national junior team at the 2011 IIHF World U20 Championship , where he earned a silver medal and was named to the Tournament All - Star Team . Personal life . Johansen was born in Vancouver , British Columbia , to Randall and Rosalind Johansen . He has a younger brother , Lucas . He played his first years of minor hockey with the Vancouver Thunderbirds organization until his family moved to the suburb of Port Moody . The relocation meant giving up playing for triple - A teams in Vancouver and diminished exposure to scouts . Nonetheless , he played in Port Moody at the double - A level through to bantam ( age 13 – 14 level ) , including a peewee ( age 11 – 12 ) provincial championship . In 2007 – 08 , he played with the Vancouver North East Chiefs of the British Columbia Major Midget League . Playing career . Johansen was drafted into the Western Hockey League ( WHL ) 150th overall by the Portland Winterhawks in the 2007 Bantam Draft . Having been offered an athletic scholarship to play with Northeastern University , he opted to play for the Penticton Vees of the British Columbia Hockey League ( BCHL ) in 2008 – 09 to protect his eligibility for the National Collegiate Athletics Association ( NCAA ) . He appeared in 42 games for the Vees as a 16 - year - old , scoring five goals and twelve assists . Convinced of his ability , the Winterhawks persuaded Johansen to forego university and join their club for the 2009 – 10 WHL season . In Portland , he joined a line with fellow 2010 NHL Entry Draft prospects Nino Niederreiter and Brad Ross . He finished the year with 25 goals and 69 points in 71 games , second among league rookies behind Kevin Connauton and second in team scoring , behind Chris Francis . Helping the Winterhawks make the playoffs one year after finishing last in the WHL , they advanced to the second round . Johansen added 18 points in 13 games , ninth in league scoring and first among rookies , despite playing in only two of four playoff rounds . Johansen rapidly climbed prospect charts for the 2010 NHL Entry Draft , starting the year as a potential second round selection , before rising to 16th among North American skaters when the NHL Central Scouting Bureau ( CSB ) released its mid - season ranking . Johansen ' s coach with Penticton noted that , as one of the younger players of his draft class , his skill was often overlooked . NHL scouts praised his speed , playmaking ability and vision on the ice but believed he needed to show more consistency and physicality . He has been compared to Ottawa Senators centre Jason Spezza , while Johansen has said he tries to model his game after San Jose Sharks centre Joe Thornton . He finished the season as the 10th ranked skater according to Central Scouting and was projected to be a top 20 pick , perhaps as high as top 10 . With the fourth overall pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft , Johansen was chosen by the Columbus Blue Jackets . A couple of months after his draft , Johansen signed with Columbus to a three - year , entry - level contract on September 9 , 2010 . With a base salary of $ 900 , 000 , the deal could reach $ 1 . 975 million per year if he achieves all his bonus incentives . Attending his first NHL training camp that month , he did not make the Blue Jackets roster and was returned to Portland on October 2 for another year of junior hockey . Back in the WHL , Johansen was chosen to represent the league at the 2010 Subway Super Series , a six - game exhibition tournament featuring all - stars from the Canadian Hockey League ( CHL ) against Russian junior players . He completed the 2010 – 11 season improving to 92 points ( 40 goals and 52 assists ) in 63 games , ranking seventh among league scorers . Joining the Blue Jackets ' training camp for a second year , Johansen made the opening lineup for the 2011 – 12 season . He made his NHL debut on October 7 , 2011 , registering 8 minutes and 46 seconds of ice time in a 3 – 2 loss to the Nashville Predators . He registered his first NHL point , an assist on a Kris Russell goal , in a 4 – 3 loss to the Ottawa Senators on October 22 . Three days later , he scored his first NHL goal against Ty Conklin of the Detroit Red Wings . Banking the puck off of Conklin ' s skate from behind the goal line , the milestone came on the power play and was the game - winner . He also added an assist to help Columbus to their first win of the season , a 4 – 1 victory . After playing in his ninth game of the season , having recorded two goals and two assists in that span , Johansen was notified by Blue Jackets head coach Scott Arniel that he would remain with the team and not be returned to junior . International play . Johansen was invited to take part in the Canadian national junior team ' s selection camp in August and December 2011 . He was later named to the squad , competing in the 2011 IIHF World U20 Championship , held in Buffalo , New York . Making his international debut against Russia , he scored his first goal for Canada in a 5 – 3 win . In the quarterfinal against Switzerland , he was named the player of the game , having scored his second goal of the tournament . He scored again in the semifinal against the United States to help Canada advance to the gold medal game , where they were defeated 5 – 3 by Russia . Johansen finished with three goals and nine points , third in team scoring behind Brayden Schenn and Ryan Ellis , and was named to the Tournament All - Star Team .