This is exactly how I feel. I'm not at all implying that our playoff window is closing, but it certainly isn't going to get any more open than it is right now. Crosby, Malkin, Neal, Kunitz, Niskanen and Letang are all pretty much in their prime, Cooke, Dupuis, Martin, and Orpik aren't getting any younger, and Fleury is either in his prime or close. It's great that we have a boatload of quality D-prospects, but some of these guys won't be ready for top 4 NHL minutes for another 3 years. I don't know about you, but if we don't win again in the next 3 years I will always say, "Man, it really feels like we should have had another cup between 2010 and 2016."

Jack Johnson is one of the better D-men in the league and if he could be had for two of our promising (but unproven) prospects then I would gladly make that trade. By the time some of our younger prospects are truly NHL ready Kunitz, Dupuis, and Orpik will probably all be on the decline physically. We need defensive depth now.

A lot of people on this board don't seem to appreciate that trades like Gogo for Nisk/Neal are VERY rare and that you have to give to get. I am still seeing things like TK and a 3rd for Iginla, or Vitale, Jeffrey, and TK for a Top 4 Dman. More often than not trades feel more like the Staal trade. To successfully trade for an established D-man of Johnson's caliber it's going to sting a little. If Johnson or someone similar is truly on the table, I say we go for it. Give me a little sting.
- kill.monsters

Johnson is so great the LA Kings couldnt get rid of him fast enough and trust his job to a rookie.

Johnson is so great the LA Kings couldnt get rid of him fast enough and trust his job to a rookie.
- Gunner Staal

They also just won the Stanley Cup. The Kings were stacked at D and moved him for scoring depth which they needed more.

Look, I'm not saying he's Shea Weber, and I'm definitely not saying he'd be part of our top pair. What I am saying is that his cap hit is only 4.3 for the next 7 years, and he'd add quality depth to our defense. He would also be a decent option for our #2 Power Play.

The conclusion I have drawn is that you post to seek attention. You won't find that attention from me past this post.
- Gunner Staal

Draw whatever conclusion you want, I just state fact. Our D is not physical by any means, the amount of goals scored from in front of our net has to be top 3 in the league. To say that Jack Johnson is not a physical D-man is absurd.

They also just won the Stanley Cup. The Kings were stacked at D and moved him for scoring depth which they needed more.

Look, I'm not saying he's Shea Weber, and I'm definitely not saying he'd be part of our top pair. What I am saying is that his cap hit is only 4.3 for the next 7 years, and he'd add quality depth to our defense. He would also be a decent option for our #2 Power Play.
- kill.monsters

Joe Morrow is better than him right now, book it.

They also just won the Stanley Cup. The Kings were stacked at D and moved him for scoring depth which they needed more.

Look, I'm not saying he's Shea Weber, and I'm definitely not saying he'd be part of our top pair. What I am saying is that his cap hit is only 4.3 for the next 7 years, and he'd add quality depth to our defense. He would also be a decent option for our #2 Power Play.
- kill.monsters

Actually, based on statistics he is a terrible liability. Good analysis.

http://hockeyanalysis.com...-how-bad-is-jack-johnson/

Joe Morrow is better than him right now, book it.
- Gunner Staal

Yeah, I said that the other night. Maybe not right now, as Morrow had a rough start in WBS, but give him the rest of the season there and a good off season, and I'd rather have Joe Morrow than Jack Johnson next season.

Joe Morrow is better than him right now, book it.
- Gunner Staal

Joe Morrow is better than him right now, book it.
- Gunner Staal

It's pretty hard to effectively defend or attack that statement, but I'm sure you know that.

Johnson certainly has more of an offensive upside currently with 9 points in 19 NHL games vs. Morrow's 12 in 49. +/- currently slightly favors Morrow, but he also plays for a better team in his league, and plays against inferior athletes. I haven't watched any Baby Pens games to know what Morrow is like in the blocked shots/hits/defensive awareness realm, but I have a hard time imagining that a guy who hasn't made our major league club while Bortuzzo has is CURRENTLY better than an established NHL/Olympic athlete. A year from now I'm sure the conversation could be quite different.

Yeah, I said that the other night. Maybe not right now, as Morrow had a rough start in WBS, but give him the rest of the season there and a good off season, and I'd rather have Joe Morrow than Jack Johnson next season.
- rival22

with our standings and the possibilty of us going to the finals... shouldnt we get someone for right now? not next year? I would have no problem getting a rental vet D, but a winger we need for right now and the next couple of yrs...

They also just won the Stanley Cup. The Kings were stacked at D and moved him for scoring depth which they needed more.

Look, I'm not saying he's Shea Weber, and I'm definitely not saying he'd be part of our top pair. What I am saying is that his cap hit is only 4.3 for the next 7 years, and he'd add quality depth to our defense. He would also be a decent option for our #2 Power Play.
- kill.monsters

If he's not part of our top pair, why take on a guy with 7 years at $4.3 million? Especially when you got so much depth in the system.

I'm not a big Jack Johnson fan by any means, but if he had one or two more years left, maybe I'd think about it for a stopgap if losing Letang is a possibility, but not with 7 years left.

Actually, based on statistics he is a terrible liability. Good analysis.

http://hockeyanalysis.com...-how-bad-is-jack-johnson/
- powerhouse

You searched (how bad is Jack Johnson) what did you expect to find.

You searched (how bad is Jack Johnson) what did you expect to find.
- nbartley9

Jack Johnson is not the best D-man in the league, but he would be a very solid 4-5 man. He has a physical element to his game that would be welcome on our team.

Yeah, I said that the other night. Maybe not right now, as Morrow had a rough start in WBS, but give him the rest of the season there and a good off season, and I'd rather have Joe Morrow than Jack Johnson next season.
- rival22

It was rough due to the lockout and the flooding of NHL talent in the AHL at the time. He needed to learn the pro game which he is now quickly doing. Spending the rest of the season in WBS wouldnt nec. hurt him, but getting him a handful of NHL games under his belt before training camp will do wonders for his development. If he really impresses the management, then that is a wonderful problem to have, but at the least he will have a jump start on what he needs to work on in the off season. I will say Morrow is more ready to play in Pitt than people realize though.

Jack Johnson is not the best D-man in the league, but he would be a very solid 4-5 man. He has a physical element to his game that would be welcome on our team.
- nbartley9

Im not saying i want JJ and agree with you. Im just more on the train of trading 2-3 of these D prospects if it can make this team better now.
- SayWhat...NoWay

You DON'T trade anymore than two of them. You trade three, your system goes in the tank. It's not that strong to begin with. Take the D prospects out of the equation, we are probably dead last as far as prospects.

Pittsburgh should be a now and future team. The core of this team is still very young. We aren't the SJ sharks, or pick your veteran team that the window is closing. Get players that solve solutions for now and the future and don't mortgage all the future to get it.

with our standings and the possibilty of us going to the finals... shouldnt we get someone for right now? not next year? I would have no problem getting a rental vet D, but a winger we need for right now and the next couple of yrs...
- nh4442

Why exactly do we need a winger?

But, that's where the conversation of what you want to give up comes into play. If we can get a good winger who is signed (or still an RFA) for the next couple of seasons, I would be ok with giving up a high level prospect. But even then, with our offense now, a good scoring winger is more of a want than a need.

I'm fine with a rental, but I hate the idea of giving up a very good prospect for a rental.

It's pretty hard to effectively defend or attack that statement, but I'm sure you know that.

Johnson certainly has more of an offensive upside currently with 9 points in 19 NHL games vs. Morrow's 12 in 49. +/- currently slightly favors Morrow, but he also plays for a better team in his league, and plays against inferior athletes. I haven't watched any Baby Pens games to know what Morrow is like in the blocked shots/hits/defensive awareness realm, but I have a hard time imagining that a guy who hasn't made our major league club while Bortuzzo has is CURRENTLY better than an established NHL/Olympic athlete. A year from now I'm sure the conversation could be quite different.
- kill.monsters

Its easy, look at how many seasons Bortuzzo spent in the AHL and how many Morrow has...you will see why Bortuzzo is in the NHL now and Morrow isnt.

Jack Johnson is not the best D-man in the league, but he would be a very solid 4-5 man. He has a physical element to his game that would be welcome on our team.
- nbartley9

Jack Johnson is garbage. He helps the power play, but we are third in the league already. He brings a physical element, but big deal - what does a physical element bring if you are a poopty on the defensive side. To me, he is an offensive minded Luke Schenn, who I think sucks.

We need Seto!!!

If he's not part of our top pair, why take on a guy with 7 years at $4.3 million? Especially when you got so much depth in the system.

I'm not a big Jack Johnson fan by any means, but if he had one or two more years left, maybe I'd think about it for a stopgap if losing Letang is a possibility, but not with 7 years left.
- rival22

We already have a stop gap if Letang bolts. His name is Despres. He just needs to play more and gain experience. You can see his skill level. Johnson isn't Letang, not close.

Joe Morrow is better than him right now, book it.
- Gunner Staal

And so is Despres.

All I am going to say is that I called Ryan Whitney out for what he was, I called Goligoski out for what he was, and I'm now calling Jack Johnson out for what he is.

All defensive liabilities who can flash a little offensive skill to the naked eye. One might have more foot speed, one might be slightly more physical, but they are all the same end result.

Defensemen like the ones mentioned above are window dressing. Looks great at a first glance but if you take a second to dig in and look, not so impressive without the tinsel and fancy lighting.

Jack Johnson is garbage. He helps the power play, but we are third in the league already. He brings a physical element, but big deal - what does a physical element bring if you are a poopty on the defensive side. To me, he is an offensive minded Luke Schenn, who I think sucks.
- Oneonta Penguin

I know my previous posts have been in favor of going after Jack Johnson, but I changed my mind over night. I don't believe his the missing piece we need. A guy like Hal Gil or Rob Scuderi would be ideal. Jack Johnson has posted a positive +/- in his career once. Def. not the partner Letang needs for us to be a legitimate threat at defense.

It was rough due to the lockout and the flooding of NHL talent in the AHL at the time. He needed to learn the pro game which he is now quickly doing. Spending the rest of the season in WBS wouldnt nec. hurt him, but getting him a handful of NHL games under his belt before training camp will do wonders for his development. If he really impresses the management, then that is a wonderful problem to have, but at the least he will have a jump start on what he needs to work on in the off season. I will say Morrow is more ready to play in Pitt than people realize though.
- Reverend Killtaker

Good to hear... I does seem like they are big into calling a guy up for a couple of games, just to get a look at them, and give the player some motivation going forward.