Looking At Possible Jack Johnson Replacements

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Created by: AnalyticsGeek

Team: 2019-20 Pittsburgh Penguins

Initial Creation Date: Feb. 12, 2020

Published: Feb. 12, 2020

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

Description

As every game passes, it becomes more evident that the Penguins need to find a replacement for Jack Johnson. Even when Dumoulin & Marino are healthy, I still don’t trust him in the bottom pair role. I just don’t see him as a good fit for this team, plus his game has declined significantly since 2016/17. Too slow, no finesse & all muscle mass. He can’t handle the skill of opposing team’s top players he just physically can’t keep up. He’s always late to react to the play in front of him & misses his assignments. The team can’t exit the zone because of him. Maybe he would be a good fit on a heavier team like the Blues, Capitals or Bruins but he’s a joke here. The Penguins need someone who is a fluent skater and can move the puck up the ice. Juuso Riikola is capable according to team analysts Dan Kingerski and Jesse Marshall. We know he can skate and break out. However, don't ever expect the Penguins to bench of move Jack Johnson. Jim Rutherford, Mike Sullivan and Sidney Crosby love him so much and believe he is a vital part of the team's success.

Trades

PIT

Michael Del Zotto

ANA

2020 5th Round Pick

PIT

Joel Edmundson

CAR

2021 1st Round Pick

PIT

Trevor Daley

DET

2020 4th Round Pick

PIT

Ben Hutton

LAK

Jack Johnson
Kasper Bjorkqvist
2021 2nd Round Pick

PIT

Andy Greene

NJD

2nd Round Pick
Sam Miletic

PIT

Mike Rielly

OTT

2021 2nd Round Pick

Buried

Casey DeSmith: $175,000 ($1,250,000)

Draft	Round 1	Round 2	Round 3	Round 4	Round 5	Round 6	Round 7
2020
2021
2022

ROSTER

LONG-TERM OUTLOOK

EMBED

TEXT-EMBED

ROSTER SIZE	SALARY CAP	CAP HIT	OVERAGES	BONUSES	CAP SPACE
24	$81,500,000	$72,374,125	$132,500	$3,832,500	$9,125,875

Roster

Left Wing	Centre	Right Wing
Simon, Dominik $750,000$750,000 RW, LW UFA - 1	Crosby, Sidney $8,700,000$8,700,000 C NMC UFA - 6	Zucker, Jason $5,500,000$5,500,000 LW, RW M-NTC UFA - 4
McCann, Jared $1,250,000$1,250,000 C, LW UFA - 1	Malkin, Evgeni $9,500,000$9,500,000 C NMC UFA - 3	Rust, Bryan $3,500,000$3,500,000 RW, LW UFA - 3
Kahun, Dominik $925,000$925,000 ($2,850,000$3M) LW, RW, C UFA - 1	Bjugstad, Nick $2,050,000$2,050,000 C, RW UFA - 2	Hörnqvist, Patric $5,300,000$5,300,000 RW NTC UFA - 4
Aston-Reese, Zach $1,000,000$1,000,000 LW, RW UFA - 2	Blueger, Teddy $750,000$750,000 C, LW UFA - 2	Tanev, Brandon $3,500,000$3,500,000 LW, RW M-NTC UFA - 6

Left Defense	Right Defense	Goaltender
Dumoulin, Brian $4,100,000$4,100,000 LD M-NTC UFA - 4	Letang, Kris $7,250,000$7,250,000 RD M-NTC, NMC UFA - 3	Murray, Matt $3,750,000$3,750,000 G UFA - 1
Pettersson, Marcus $874,125$874,125 LD UFA - 1	Marino, John $925,000$925,000 ($850,000$850K) RD UFA - 2	Jarry, Tristan $675,000$675,000 G UFA - 1
	Schultz, Justin $5,500,000$5,500,000 RD M-NTC UFA - 1
Riikola, Juuso $850,000$850,000 LD UFA - 1

Scratches	Injured Reserve (IR)	Long Term IR (LTIR)
Agozzino, Andrew $700,000$700,000 C, LW UFA - 2		Guentzel, Jake $4,500,000$4,500,000 LW, RW UFA - 5
Lafferty, Sam $767,500$767,500 ($132,500$132K) RW, C, LW UFA - 1
Johnson, Jack $3,250,000$3,250,000 LD UFA - 4
Ruhwedel, Chad $700,000$700,000 RD UFA - 2

Special Teams

Power Play 1
Rust, B.		Crosby, S.		Zucker, J.
	Schultz, J.		Malkin, E.

Power Play 2
Kahun, D.		McCann, J.		Hörnqvist, P.
	Letang, K.		Marino, J.

Penalty Kill 1
	Blueger, T.	Tanev, B.
	Dumoulin, B.	Letang, K.

Penalty Kill 2
	Aston-Reese, Z.	Zucker, J.
	Pettersson, M.	Marino, J.

Feb. 12, 2020 at 4:42 p.m.

#26

Boomer125

Joined: Apr. 2019

Posts: 7,151

Likes: 1,640

Quoting: MikeyThePensFan

I don't know man. I don't think the Penguins stand a chance against any team right now.

Here's my view , the Pens are still a threat and will be a threat to win it all 1 word Crosby the guy can still steal a series and dominate, Zucker will take a month or so to settle in but this team is still very very very good, this whole defence wins championships is total garbage it's literally 50/50 defence versus offence winning championships.

Feb. 12, 2020 at 4:56 p.m.

#27

AnalyticsGeek

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Quoting: Boomer125

Yes you are right actually. Pens have strong offence with Sid, Geno, Guentzel & Rust. They will get Marino & Dumoulin back plus they have 2 good goaltenders. But for some reason they don't seem to scare other teams. Perhaps their best days are behind them. We shall see.

Feb. 12, 2020 at 4:57 p.m.

#28

AnalyticsGeek

Thread Starter

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@Arom5477 @Chigurrhh @CPH @CHUG @dgfresh78 @MajesticWalrus @mhockey91 @bigZ98 @Jesus

What'd you guys think?

Feb. 12, 2020 at 5:16 p.m.

#29

bigZ98

bigZ

Joined: Jun. 2019

Posts: 688

Likes: 311

Quoting: MikeyThePensFan

@Arom5477 @Chigurrhh @CPH @CHUG @dgfresh78 @MajesticWalrus @mhockey91 @bigZ98 @Jesus

What'd you guys think?

If you can get rid of him without giving up something important then do it. For example, if he was the cap dump instead of chucky in the zucker trade that kind of trade is fine with me. I think a trade made just to trade JJ is not worth it. In all honestly has not been terrible in his own end. The only thing killing him is the 1st pairing role he has. He is where offense goes to die, so if you play him on your 3rd pairing against other teams bottom lines and away from crosby and malkin we should be fine.

Feb. 12, 2020 at 6:03 p.m.

#30

Chigurrhh

Chiggy

Joined: May 2017

Posts: 1,796

Likes: 590

Personally, I think the team can do just fine if he's sheltered in a third pairing role.

The real problem is the contract and how it hurts the team moving forward. Riikola is better but isn't getting a the shot he should get. POJ should be bette in a year or two. Lots of RFAs this summer. Would much rather move him than Bjugstad.

Feb. 12, 2020 at 6:28 p.m.

#31

Kyle_Davidson

Kyle from Chicago

Joined: Feb. 2018

Posts: 9,934

Likes: 5,938

Quoting: MikeyThePensFan

I really wanted the Pens to sign De Haan instead of Johnson in 2018. Even though he costed more but it seems like he is having injury problems anyway. We wish him the best.

For what it's worth he is really good. Bonafide number 4 defenseman, would be a definite upgrade on JJ.

mhockey91 liked this.

Feb. 12, 2020 at 6:40 p.m.

#32

AnalyticsGeek

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Quoting: Stan_Bowman

For what it's worth he is really good. Bonafide number 4 defenseman, would be a definite upgrade on JJ.

Yeah I know he's a good skater and can move the puck up the ice. He'd be a great fit for the Penguins.

Feb. 12, 2020 at 6:44 p.m.

#33

AnalyticsGeek

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Quoting: bigZ98

Yeah I agree he hasn't been as bad defensively as last season, but it's still not been pretty. Hopefully being on the third pair will help him stabilize, but Schultz has been really bad this season so I don't know what to expect when everyone is healthy.

Feb. 12, 2020 at 6:47 p.m.

#34

AnalyticsGeek

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Quoting: Chigurrhh

Yep if the Penguins shelter him, then maybe he can still be serviceable but it really doesn't look good. Riikola is statistically way better plus he is a better skater, has more agility and is capable of moving the puck up the ice. But Sully values JJ and his PK work too much.

Feb. 12, 2020 at 9:35 p.m.

#35

pharrow

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Joined: Jun. 2018

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Quoting: MikeyThePensFan

No, when Letang or Schultz get caught out of position or make a bad pinch that results in a scoring chance against, I have no problem blaming them. The issue with Johnson is that he can't defend against players 1v1. He gets walked around so easily because he doesn't have the speed or agility to keep up with them. We saw it happen several times against the Avs when he was up against MacKinnon as well as the last 2 meetings vs Point and the Lightning. He gets undressed so often by the other team's opposing players which results in a scoring chance or extended offensive zone time. And when he gets the puck he is not capable of moving it up the ice because he's a poor skater and has slow reactions. By the time he is ready to break out the opponent is already pressuring him on the forecheck and he's got no where to go.

what a bunch of nonsense.
People don't appreciate what he does on the ice. He made 2 very solid plays in the game against TB. Like defending the guy on a break away when he had no stick. He took him out of the play and saved a goal there.
He has no business on a top pairing. We all know that. He's not a bad 3rd pairing guy. He's just over paid for being there.
I'd rather have him there than Hutton.

Feb. 12, 2020 at 9:50 p.m.

#36

dgfresh78

Joined: Nov. 2018

Posts: 2,277

Likes: 507

Quoting: Stan_Bowman

Are you guys missing Matta?

I’d rather roll the dice and see if the hawks buy him out or not.

Feb. 13, 2020 at 10:42 a.m.

#37

Toddyd77

Joined: Jun. 2015

Posts: 842

Likes: 80

Quoting: MikeyThePensFan

I don't know man. I don't think the Penguins stand a chance against any team right now.

Well aren't you the debbie downer might want to take Pens fan off your name.
Replacing JJ isn't the problem. Getting rid of the injury bug is. When healthy JJ will be in a lesser role that is honestly better for him.
Johnson leads Pens dmen in hits and blocks, he gets blamed for so many goals against but is a plus 9, and also has the most starts in the defensive zone of any Pens defenseman.

Now JJ is no all-star far from it and you can throw some negative analytics at him and this and that but I'd rather have him than almost all the crap Dmen mentioned above with the exception of Edmundson(who isn't worth a first)

Feb. 13, 2020 at 11:35 a.m.

#38

dgfresh78

Joined: Nov. 2018

Posts: 2,277

Likes: 507

Quoting: Toddyd77

Ah yes, questioning one’s fandom because they realize Jack Johnson is hot garbage. Real riveting stuff here.

Feb. 13, 2020 at 12:48 p.m.

#39

mhockey91

Joined: Jun. 2015

Posts: 15,921

Likes: 6,980

Quoting: Stan_Bowman

For what it's worth he is really good. Bonafide number 4 defenseman, would be a definite upgrade on JJ.

I wanted this badly as well

Feb. 13, 2020 at 12:49 p.m.

#40

mhockey91

Joined: Jun. 2015

Posts: 15,921

Likes: 6,980

Quoting: MikeyThePensFan

@Arom5477 @Chigurrhh @CPH @CHUG @dgfresh78 @MajesticWalrus @mhockey91 @bigZ98 @Jesus

What'd you guys think?

these are all definite overpays but I agree, or even just play Riikola

Feb. 13, 2020 at 1:24 p.m.

#41

Toddyd77

Joined: Jun. 2015

Posts: 842

Likes: 80

Quoting: dgfresh78

Ah yes, questioning one’s fandom because they realize Jack Johnson is hot garbage. Real riveting stuff here.

Man you should read a bit better. If you saw my post had quoted him saying "I don't know man. I don't think the Penguins stand a chance against any team right now."
that was why his fandom was questioned. the Jack johnson stuff came after........

Feb. 13, 2020 at 1:41 p.m.

#42

MajesticWalrus

Joined: Aug. 2017

Posts: 3,022

Likes: 351

Daley sounds interesting since he won a cup here before. Hutton is the worst acquisition here though, so lazy.

Feb. 13, 2020 at 2:03 p.m.

#43

dgfresh78

Joined: Nov. 2018

Posts: 2,277

Likes: 507

Quoting: Toddyd77

They’ll be fine...they still have one of the best forward groups on paper even without Guentzel. But I’ll be honest I don’t think they’ll be able to sustain the Johnson contract past this season as they have several RFAs to sign including both goalies. If they break camp next year with Johnson and Bjugstad I’ll be extremely surprised.

Feb. 13, 2020 at 3:04 p.m.

#44

AnalyticsGeek

Thread Starter

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Quoting: Toddyd77

Whenever JJ is on the ice the team gives up so many shots and scoring chances against. He concedes 13 high danger chances per 60 minutes. How is that acceptable? You cannot be getting outplayed like this on a nightly basis and expect to keep winning games. It’s simply not sustainable. JJ does not fit the Pens & is a black hole on this team. All the other defensemen are capable of exiting the zone & moving the puck to the other side of the ice whereas JJ is not. Due to the fact that he’s always defending, that’s why he has so many blocks and hits.

Feb. 13, 2020 at 3:05 p.m.

#45

AnalyticsGeek

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Quoting: MajesticWalrus

Daley sounds interesting since he won a cup here before. Hutton is the worst acquisition here though, so lazy.

I didn’t know that about Hutton. I thought he was capable of moving the puck up the ice better than JJ.

MajesticWalrus liked this.

Feb. 13, 2020 at 3:06 p.m.

#46

AnalyticsGeek

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Quoting: mhockey91

these are all definite overpays but I agree, or even just play Riikola

The stats say that Riikola is much better than JJ, and he definitely seems more capable of moving the puck up the ice, which happens to be JJ’s biggest weakness.

mhockey91 liked this.

Feb. 13, 2020 at 4:27 p.m.

#47

Toddyd77

Joined: Jun. 2015

Posts: 842

Likes: 80

Quoting: MikeyThePensFan

He has because he is physical and he is really the only defenseman on the team you can say that about. He also plays with defenseman who take risks. Being on the ice for a high% scoring chance against doesn't mean it resulted from his play. He is caught in a lot of Odd man breaks that do count against him as a scoring chance against but are they his fault? The Pens are one of the top teams in the east and JJ has been playing on a top pair or in the top 4 pretty much all season. If he is so inept i don't know how this would have happened with the Pens being without so many star players for long stretches. So the criticism here is far overblown and unjustified.

Feb. 13, 2020 at 4:33 p.m.

#48

Toddyd77

Joined: Jun. 2015

Posts: 842

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Quoting: dgfresh78

I agree that they will be fine. Which is why I don't know why the other guy was whining. I'd be surprised if bjugstad lasts here past the trade deadline. he is the likely one to go to fix cap for next season. Of course I don't see the Pens having 3 goalies on NHL contracts next season either.

Feb. 13, 2020 at 4:53 p.m.

#49

TheGuyInTheChair

Joined: Dec. 2017

Posts: 1,271

Likes: 581

Quoting: MikeyThePensFan

@Arom5477 @Chigurrhh @CPH @CHUG @dgfresh78 @MajesticWalrus @mhockey91 @bigZ98 @Jesus

What'd you guys think?

I think if the Capitals could win a cup with Brooks Orpik on their bottom pairing we can win one with Jack Johnson. After this year if we can upgrade on Johnson with someone better at around the same cost I’d be all in but I don’t wanna mess with the locker room this year

mhockey91, dgfresh78, lRONHlDE31 and 1 other person liked this.

Feb. 13, 2020 at 5:13 p.m.

#50

AnalyticsGeek

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Quoting: Toddyd77

You can’t argue that his linemates are the reason why he gets so heavily outplayed. Letang gives up just over 3 high danger chances per 60 minutes. Without Johnson he spends 59% of the time in the offensive zone. With him, he is only there for 44% of the time. That’s not on Letang, that’s on Johnson. Schultz has not had a great season at all, but he only gives up 8 high danger chances per 60 minutes. Still fewer than JJ. Without JJ, he’s spent 53% of his ice time this season in the offensive zone. With him, only 30%. When you’re pinned inside your own zone for that much time you can’t expect to win. So the criticism is more than justified. What’s unjustified is apologists like you defending him when he clearly doesn’t fit the team!

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