Former Nashville Predators' Ryan Johansen returned with fond memories, left with a loss

A 6-foot-6-on-skates man ambled into the visiting locker room at Bridgestone Arena on Monday morning wearing a grin and a different uniform.

Ryan Johansen immediately beelined toward Nashville Predators radio announcer Pete Weber and gave him a hefty hug.

"How are you, big guy?" Johansen asked before shaking more hands as he made his way back to his stall.

The former Nashville Predators center then propped a Colorado Avalanche-purple hat atop his head, one featuring a cartoon rendering of well-known locker-room attendant Craig "Partner" Baugh.

Johansen had the hats made through his clothing line, "Journey Risk True," to celebrate his return to Bridgestone Arena for the first time since he was traded to the Avalanche during the summer. Many of his teammates wore them after the morning skate.

"It's weird for sure," Johansen said of his being in Bridgestone as a visitor. "I'm not going to lie.

"Coming into town, it felt like coming home."

Johansen spent 7½ seasons with the Predators, with 127 goals and 283 assists in 594 games. He didn't record a point in 12 minutes, 53 seconds of play Monday night.

Ryan Johansen on being traded: 'It's always a shock'

The last time Ryan Johansen played at Bridgestone Arena as a visitor was Nov. 20, 2015, eight years to the day from Monday.

"Wow," he said. "Are you serious? That's crazy."

Johansen had a goal and assist that day during the Columbus Blue Jackets' 4-0 victory.

Forty-nine days later, after he was acquired from Columbus for defenseman Seth Jones, Johansen played the first of his 594 games with the Predators. He had a goal and assist in that game, too, a 5-3 loss to — who else? — the Colorado Avalanche.

Johansen was on his way to the airport after a vacation in Napa Valley when he received the call he never thought he would. The one during which he learned he'd been dealt for Alex Galchenyuk, a player the Predators didn't keep.

"It was a crazy, crazy morning," Johansen said. "You never expect those things to happen, and when they do it's always a shock and a big change."

The move essentially was a salary dump for the Predators, who agreed to pay half of his $8 million annual salary for the remaining two years of his contract.

Ryan Johansen on Nashville: 'Means everything to me'

Johansen counts the team's improbable trip to the 2017 Stanley Cup Final as his fondest memory of being a Predator.

He has been involved in many more, though.

"There's too many, and half of them I can't even tell you," Predators forward and former Johansen linemate Filip Forsberg said.

One that could be shared was from Colton Sissons, who lived in Johansen's house for a couple of months a few years ago while his own house was being built.

"He's a good roommate," Sissons said. "We cooked some good meals. Fortunately his house was big enough for all of us to have our own space."

Emotions tugged at Johansen as he talked about Nashville and the Predators.

"Means everything to me," he said. "Right from day one it felt like I belonged here, like it wasn't a coincidence I ended up being traded here.

"I could talk about a million people I've run into or become really close friends with. It's a special place and it's not a secret anymore. I'm just grateful David (Poile) gave me an opportunity to come here."

A 52-second tribute video, which featured Johansen in a Grinch costume and one of his slow-motion shootout goals, was played during the first period.

PA announcer Paul McCann welcomed him back. Johansen waved to the roaring crowd while his former teammates tapped their sticks in respect against the boards.

'That's how I'd like to start my day every day'

Forsberg said it was "hard not to be sad" when he learned that Johansen had been traded.

He quickly called his friend and shared his feelings.

"Sadly that's just how things are going to go," Forsberg said. "Everybody loved him. The Avs are lucky to have him. It sucks but it's part of the business."

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But things with his new team are going pretty well. His six goals are already halfway to his total from last season. He's playing for one of the best teams in the league.

One of the brightest parts of Johansen's day Monday happened when he ran into one of those "million people" long before the game. That person was Baugh.

"I got a couple Partner hugs this morning," he said. "That's exactly how I'd like to start my day every day, with a Partner hug."

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Fans cheer ex-Nashville Predators' Ryan Johansen; he leaves with loss