Johansen returns to Columbus: 'Definitely weird walking in here'

Ryan Johansen surely knew it was on the calendar, but that didn't make the lead-up to his first game back in Columbus any less strange for him.

"It feels like everyone's forgotten about it, it's been so long," the Nashville Predators forward told reporters, including Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch. "Definitely weird walking in here, but I'm looking forward to it."

Johansen will face the Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena on Sunday night for the first time since being traded to the Predators for defenseman Seth Jones over a year ago.

"I had a lot of fun in my time here, built some great relationships, have a lot of fond memories of Columbus," he said Sunday. "That's all that matters, really."

After back-to-back seasons scoring more than 25 goals (33 in 2013-14 and 26 in 2014-15), Johansen struggled to maintain that pace before and after he was dealt, but still posted a solid 60-point campaign combined between the two clubs.

The goal scoring hasn't been there for the 24-year-old this season either (nine goals), but he's once again contributing in the playmaking department with 31 assists in 57 games.

Johansen spent parts of five seasons with the Blue Jackets, who drafted him fourth overall in 2010.