The Pittsburgh Penguins were upset by the Montreal Canadiens in the qualification round, meaning they didn’t qualify for the regular 16-team Stanley Cup playoffs. That’s the first time since 2006, meaning it was easy to understand why GM Jim Rutherford wants to make some changes. What might be less easy to understand is Rutherford’s continued defense of Jack Johnson, which continued today in a piece by Josh Yohe of The Athletic.
Here’s my summary of this situation. Maybe Jack Johnson isn’t as good as I think he is. Maybe. But he’s not as bad as all of the anti-Jack Johnson people think he is. I’ll tell you what he is: He’s a solid, third-pairing defenseman if he’s playing with the right guy. He’s a player that I happen to really like and I think he’s a better player than a lot of people want to give him credit for.
Johnson has never had strong analytics behind his play, but through the first part of his career, produced consistent offensive numbers in bigger minutes. Rutherford and the Penguins signed him to a five-year, $16.25MM deal in 2018 that still has three seasons remaining. If changes are coming, it doesn’t currently look like Johnson is one, though Rutherford has been known to reconsider early-offseason comments before.
- The Toronto Maple Leafs have an assistant coach opening beside Sheldon Keefe after Paul McFarland returned to the OHL to take over head coaching and GM duties of the Kingston Frontenacs. Speculation immediately went to former Maple Leafs player Bruce Boudreau, who is looking for work after being fired by the Minnesota Wild this season. Boudreau has long been a candidate to join the Maple Leafs given his ties to and support of the organization, and now James Mirtle of The Athletic reports that the team asked Minnesota for permission to speak with him over the last few months. Boudreau, understandably, is looking for another head coaching opportunity before considering an assistant job, but is “intrigued by the idea” according to Mirtle.
- The Arizona Coyotes were outscored 14-2 by the Colorado Avalanche in their final two games of the postseason and now have plenty of work to do this offseason. Not only do they have Steve Sullivan quickly taking the reins as GM after the departure of John Chayka, but have a huge decision to make on the future of Taylor Hall. The 28-year-old forward is a pending free agent, and Craig Button of TSN doesn’t believe the Coyotes should even entertain re-signing him. Button explains that the Coyotes don’t have the supporting cast to justify signing Hall to an expensive, long-term contract—though he then suggests that Hall should be looking for a one-year deal with a contender to rebuild his value.
The Yotes need a little thing called cap space to re-sign Hall.
Hall isn’t nearly as good as he was expected to be or that pay range he’s looking for. Yotes should let expensive guys go and try for top pick next year.
“…he’s not as bad as all of the anti-Jack Johnson people think he is” – Me thinks GMJR needs to open a window or two for much-needed cross ventilation and refreshment of the little gray cells.
@windmill – They may also need Taylor to be drunk-as-a-skunk and tell him he’s really signing a mega-deal with a top contender for the Cup. And, of course, no NMC/NTC!
Jack Johnson is a sold 3rd pairing defenseman IF he is playing with the right guy???
Seriously? So as long as Jack has someone who will cover up his mistakes he’s solid.
And he’s making 5mil a year to be a 3rd pairing defenseman who is only solid based on his line mate. Just ridiculous
Once JR falls in love with a player, it never ends. It’s been his biggest downfall as a GM.
Yeah that signing was awful from day one. The saddest thing is everyone saw how bad he is on national television. Rutherford still insisting on him being a good defenseman makes me question everything going forward. Sad to say we’re probably stuck with that albatross now.
A) People need to understand that Jack Johnson isn’t a Penguin because of Jim Rutherford. This was a favor to Sid from day one. It continues to be so to this day. All with Mario’s direct or indirect approval.
B) Having said that, I generally agree with Rutherford’s assessment. Generally*. Johnson isn’t as bad as his critics say because NO ONE ON EARTH could be as bad as his critics say. You’d think he invented cancer. The Pens played long stretches (4 to 6 weeks) this year and last year with Johnson on the top pairing and the team played (around) .750 hockey. You can’t play .750 hockey for months with a horrible D man on your top pair. Can’t be done. This isn’t to say he’s great, or even good. But, he’s not the cause of every bad thing on Earth as DK’s cult will tell you.
*Having said that, Johnson was really bad in the playoffs. Was Schultz worse? Yeah, looked like he’d never played before. But, Johnson was still bad even accounting for that.
If he isn’t being traded (and don’t assume that, Rutherford also likes to talk guys up right before he deals them) or bought out (Pens cap structure doesn’t allow for that), then he needs to be the #7 or #8 and they need to upgrade that third pair LHD.
I’d like to see them try to pry Jake Bean out of Carolina’s press box.
Bean isn’t in the press box next season with 3 dmen being UFA.