The Penguins might be trading away one of the worst Penguins of the Crosby and Malkin era this week.
One source said there was a "75 to 80 percent chance" that Jack Johnson will be moved before the season begins.https://t.co/j1zBwWCVGx via @JoshYohe_PGH
— The Athletic Pittsburgh (@TheAthleticPGH) September 29, 2019
A source within the Penguins organization and an independent league source both confirmed that Johnson was told over the weekend that many potential deals are on the table for general manager Jim Rutherford, and that Johnson is involved in the majority of them.One source said there was a “75 to 80 percent chance… that Johnson will be moved before the season begins.
We will see what kind of tax gets placed on the Penguins for ridding themselves of Johnson. It still begs the questions why this wasn’t done before the summer so the team could have flexibility heading into draft and free agency.
Johnson is set to earn $3.25 million annually during the next four seasons. The Penguins aren’t particularly interested in having a player earn that kind of money while sitting in the press box. The team has been pleasantly surprised with its depth on the blue line during this training camp, especially with the emergence of John Marino. Given this depth, along with the continued evolution of Marcus Pettersson and Riikola, many in the organization believe now is the time to trade Johnson.
The team being “pleasantly surprised with its depth… can be translated to them finally figuring out that below replacement level players can be easily replaced by AHL players. The Johnson signing is one of the most comical signings in recent free agent memory. He literally tanked two of the Penguins best forwards and their second best right defenseman.
Coach Sullivan on Schultz: "I think he's having a hell of a camp."
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) September 28, 2019
Schultz shines for the Penguins with four assists in the last two preseason games.
Tonight's Snap Shots: https://t.co/xDMOzieLE1 pic.twitter.com/zFj4U2xDxo
I can't imagine what changed, coach. You consistently played one of the worst players in hockey in an elevated role and are now pontificating why that same player is looking better this year. It's amazing how many hours people running a hockey team put in and they can't see the forest through the trees most of the time.
Even though we didn’t need hindsight to see how this signing was going to play out this quote from when the Penguins signed Johnson is the icing on the cake
“I don’t think he had a bad year,… Rutherford told reporters in Pittsburgh. “He was a healthy scratch at the end of the season. I know the reason why. It wasn’t because of how he was playing.
You nailed it, Jim!
Thanks for reading!