Columbus Blue Jackets defenceman Jack Johnson requested a trade in January in order to get more playing time ahead of becoming a free agent this summer.

However, the Blue Jackets elected to hold on to the 31-year-old for their own playoff run.

Johnson has spent the last five games as a healthy scratch for the Blue Jackets and, while he is set to make his return to the lineup Tuesday, he wasn't interested in discussing his time in the press box.

"Honestly, I have nothing to say about it,” Johnson told the Columbus Dispatch on Monday.

Johnson is expected to dress because Marcus Nutivaara is dealing with an upper-body injury. Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella listed injuries as the reason Johnson first sat on March 22, but Johnson said he will have no limitations on Tuesday.

“I feel good right now,” Johnson said. “The body feels good. Everything is good to go.”

Johnson is averaging a career-low 19:37 of ice time this season with three goals and 10 points in 74 games. He is in the final season of the seven-year, $30.5 million contract he signed with the Los Angeles Kings in 2010.

Johnson, whose bankruptcy situation has been well publicized, said January he was looking to do what was best for his family by requesting a trade. He added at the time he was doing his best not to let his contract situation affect his on-ice play.

"I would like to think it hasn't, but it's something I think about and talk about with my wife all the time," Johnson told the team's website in January. "I'd like to sit here and say it hasn't, but who knows? It's a big part of my life. This is my livelihood. So, to answer that question, I don't know, but I try my best to come in here every day and play hockey."

The Blue Jackets have expanded their roster to 29 players since the trade deadline and are currently carrying 10 defenceman. Johnson acknowledged Monday he's not the only player hoping to see more playing time.

“You usually carry around seven, so you don’t have that many numbers,” Johnson said of the team's current roster.

“There are a lot of guys who are good players — like [waiver-pickup Taylor] Chorney. He hasn’t even gotten a chance yet and he’s a damn good player.”

The Blue Jackets, who are 8-1-1 in their previous 10, will look to move closer to clinching a playoff spot against the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday.