Columbus pulled off a blockbuster trade Wednesday, shipping 23-year-old forward Ryan Johansen to Nashville straight up for 21-year-old defenseman Seth Jones.
Getting traded can feel lonely unless you have another traded friend to share the pain with -- which is what happened when Johansen and Jones crossed paths in the Columbus airport. They stopped to share a smile and then this photo:
As Jones points out on his repost on Instagram, he and Johansen played for the WHL's Portland Winterhawks. Johansen's stint was from 2009-2011 and Jones joined the junior club in 2012-13.
At his introductory press conference in Columbus, Jones said he played in Johansen's charity golf event over the summer and that Johansen was taking the same plane on which Jones had flown in from Nashville. The two texted after the trade and talked to each other for 20 minutes at the airport before parting ways. Jones offered up his place in Nashville for Johansen to bum upon arrival.
It is refreshing to see two young guns living in the moment and laughing with each other after their lives took drastic turn, especially since for the next two decades, their career progressions will be judged against each other. Both should make their team debuts on the road Friday when Columbus travels to Carolina and Nashville to Colorado.
Jones is the son of former NBA player, Ronald "Popeye" Jones. Popeye is an assistant coach for the Pacers.
-- Follow Jeffrey Eisenband on Twitter @JeffEisenband.
