When new Blue Jackets' defenceman Seth Jones stepped off his flight Wednesday night, one of the first faces to welcome him to Columbus was the player he'd been traded for hours earlier.

Ryan Johansen was waiting to get on the same private plane for a return shuttle to his new home in Nashville.

Johansen and Jones, friends and both former Portland Winterhawks, stopped to snap a quick photo, which Johansen posted on his Instagram account Thursday.

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If the encounter sounded awkward, it apparently wasn't. They reportedly chatted for about 20 minutes about their previous organizations - and Jones offered Johansen his apartment in Nashville.

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Both players practised with their new clubs on Thursday. Johansen, 23, will make his Predators' debut in Denver on Friday night against the Avalanche. Jones, 21, will begin his Blue Jackets' career in Raleigh on Friday night against the Hurricanes.

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Wednesday's blockbuster trade, more than a month in the making, did provide at least some geographical benefit for one of the parties.

Jones's father, former NBA player Popeye Jones, is an assistant coach with the Indianapolis Pacers. He'll now be able to see his son play more often, with Columbus being less than a three-hour drive from the Indiana capital.

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Frank Seravalli can be reached at frank.seravalli@bellmedia.ca.