Jack Johnson is in Colorado Avalanche camp on a professional tryout, but that could be converted to an NHL deal before long. Peter Baugh of The Athletic reports that things are “trending in the direction” of a new contract, though nothing has been filed just yet. An injury to Devon Toews has opened a potential spot for the veteran defenseman, who, according to Baugh’s source, had interest from other teams before deciding to head to Colorado.
The 34-year-old is coming off a one-year, $1.15MM deal with the New York Rangers, but is still earning a little more than $916K from the Pittsburgh Penguins in each of the next five seasons, thanks to a buyout in 2020. It’s been a brutal few years for Johnson, who has played in 950 regular season games over a long career but has posted terrible analytics for many of them. In a depth role perhaps he can be effective for the Avalanche, but there’s little chance of him being a real impact player for them at this point.
- The Montreal Canadiens were hoping that Carey Price would be ready for the start of the regular season after undergoing knee surgery earlier this offseason, but that may not be the case. Head coach Dominique Ducharme told reporters including John Lu of TSN that Price is currently dealing with a non-COVID illness that is keeping him off the ice and the team is “less confident now” that he’ll be ready for the first game. The fact that the Canadiens claimed Sam Montembeault off waivers this weekend makes sense if that’s the case, though Price is still not expected to miss a huge chunk of the regular season schedule.
- Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Robin Lehner stirred up hockey Twitter this weekend with a series of tweets alleging various wrongdoings across the league and tagged both the NHLPA and NHL to offer to speak directly to them. League commissioner Gary Bettman joined Jeff Marek on Sportsnet radio this afternoon and commented on the situation, explaining that the league will soon speak directly to Lehner to “hear his concerns directly” and then “follow up to see what merit there may be.” So far, the league has not announced any official investigations into any of the concerns raised by the veteran goaltender, which included allegations of team personnel providing benzodiazepines and Ambien to players.
Way the go Lehner so you should also bark out what wife of players are with others…there is a way to go about NHL business…you are making it very tough on others…
Vegas is gonna regret dumping Fleury just like the Pens did
The NHL would just try and sweep anything under the rug. Hold their feet to the fire, make any incompetence be exposed and dealt with. Lehner is not in the wrong, the old boys club can’t be protected just because they’re in the club.
interesting how this may interplay with the more recent developments in the Tyler Skaggs case, and the business going on at Fed Ex field tonight. this whole thing may just blow up soon, and it wolnt just be a NHL thing if it does.
Mate, if they deny the whole concussion/CTE thing, do you think they’ll do anything about this?
Smells like White Privilege.again
Totally agree he will shoot himself in the foot and that will be his career..why do you think teams have close door meetings…so their players can go tell Twitter after..what a donkey…
Don’t get yourself Hus-ed Lehner. In fact, probably best to not talk to them at all.
At least someone in this league (Lehner) appears to have a conscience.
2 Johnsons, no cup