Adam Vingan

USA TODAY NETWORK — Tennessee

In desperate need of a first-line caliber center, the Predators got one Wednesday, acquiring Blue Jackets forward Ryan Johansen in exchange for defenseman Seth Jones.

"Today, in my belief, we accomplished something that we haven't been able to do in 18 years of our history," Predators general manager David Poile said, "and that's to acquire a No. 1 center."

Johansen, the fourth pick in the 2010 NHL draft, scored 26 goals and a career-high 71 points last season. Only 12 players in the NHL tallied more than Johansen’s 59 total goals during the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons.

This season has been drastically disappointing by comparison for Johansen. The 23-year-old has six goals and 26 points in 38 games, but that total is still tied with Predators forward Filip Forsberg for the team lead among forwards.

"First half obviously hasn't been how I drew it up, but I've got a chance now to really get my game back on track and where I want it to be and have a great finish to the season and hopefully make a long run in the playoffs," Johansen said. "As for being a Predator now and fitting in with that team, I know they were looking for a top centerman, so I just want to fit that role and hopefully make the team instantly better that way."

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Johansen seemingly had fallen out of favor with Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella, who assumed control of the team after a 0-7-0 start to the season led to former coach Todd Richards’ dismissal. Tortorella benched Johansen for the entire third period of Columbus’ 5-1 loss to Dallas on Dec. 15 before scratching him in the next game. Johansen admitted Wednesday that he and Tortorella "definitely had a couple disagreements on things" but said their overall relationship was sound.

"He's just an in-your-face type of coach," Johansen said, downplaying any sort of friction. "He tries to get the most out of you and that's the way he knows how to coach. ... I think he was looking out for my best interest."

Said Poile: "We've done a lot of research on the situation. ... I'm very comfortable that a change of scenery is the right thing for him right now. We've just got to get him into our system, our culture, under our coaches. We've got great leadership on our hockey club."

Nevertheless, that sequence of events whipped up trade rumors, which the Predators were immediately included in as they typically are when high-end forwards reportedly become available. Talks between Poile and Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen recently intensified, with Poile ultimately realizing that it would take reaching into his team's enviable defensive depth in order to acquire the top center that the Predators have never had.

That meant parting with Jones, the fourth pick in the 2013 draft who played 199 games for Nashville, but whose projected growth on the team's defensive depth chart was minimal with captain Shea Weber and partner Roman Josi handling a significant amount of responsibility.

"Did I want to touch our defense? Did I want to trade Seth? Absolutely (not). ... To get this No. 1 center, this is what we had to do," Poile said.

Johansen is currently in the second year of a three-year, $12 million contract. He will be a restricted free agent when it expires following the 2016-17 season.

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The Predators' offense has been largely nonthreatening this season, held to two or fewer goals in more than half of their games (21 of 40), including 14 of the past 23 games. By adding Johansen, the hope is he will help to balance Nashville's forward lines and reignite a sputtering attack.

"If we didn't make this trade today, we'd be trying to make the same trade tomorrow, the next day, in the offseason," Poile said. "Looking at free agency, looking at the draft, it just wasn't there, so this is a good move for us today and for the future."

Reach Adam Vingan on Twitter @AdamVingan.