Confirmed with Link: JACK JOHNSON BOUGHT OUT

[Empoleon8771]

Nah, I don't agree with Pensburgh's take that this wasn't his fault. Johnson should have been better than what he was here. Did the contract JR gave him put a target on his back for criticism? Of course, but if Johnson would have played even remotely okay, most of that criticism would have died down. That's exactly what happened with Tanev.

He deserved to be criticized because his play warranted it. Johnson wasn't this scrub that JR thought was amazing (or at least he wasn't in Columbus), Johnson was supposed to be much more effective than he was. He should have been expected to be better than "one of the worst defensemen in hockey", him performing at that level is completely on him. By the end, he was criticized because he was horrible, not because of what he was paid.

 

[reino]

None of this was Jack Johnson’s fault

Article isn’t wrong (about him taking the contract, getting the ice time) but I dont feel any sympathy for Johnson personally.

I get there’s a human side to these things and I usually side with the players... and I understand his life’s work has been hockey, which could be done with. And I’m sure he’s a good dude.

But man, it really feels like he got gifted a free lifeline here after being scratched in CBJ, both contractually and on the ice w/ 150 games here. A lot of players would have been done after that. He lucked out.

If I recall he had other options too, but chose Penguins.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

If I recall he had other options too, but chose Penguins.

Yeah, for sure. I guess my point is that his career was already winding down and he got a lifeline.

Not saying it’s his fault that he signed or anything or that I hate the guy, but just tough for me to actively feel bad when it feels like the old boys club bailed him out based on past pedigree (3OA, athleticism, Olympic team) and connection (JR drafted him).

 

[JRS91]

You can't really blame the guy for coming here.

It's hard to feel bad for most athletes given the money they make, but given Jack Johnson's financial past with his parents I do feel bad for the guy. I hope he signs somewhere else. I was really optimistic that he wouldn't be completely awful here, and there were points where he played decent. That was a small sample size though.

 

[Snooki Stackhouse]

I never blame the player for sucking, I blame the GM for putting the pen to paper and the coach for putting him on the ice. Jack Johnson seems like a good dude and I would personally do unspeakable things to get $16mm, so for him it was a good windfall and I wish him the best. But he sucked before coming here, so he should've never been offered that contract.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

You can't really blame the guy for coming here.

It's hard to feel bad for most athletes given the money they make,

I don’t think anyone is blaming him for coming here.

Also the money they make doesn’t/shouldn’t play a part in it imo. They’re people end of the day.

Separate situations though— I do feel for someone who got taken advantage of by those closest to him.

 

[The Great Mighty Poo]

I know the reason why Jack Johnson was bought out. It wasn't the way he was playing.

Because he was buttholes stuffed with wet farts?

 

[The Greatest 101]

No one will miss him for sure.

 

[cookthebooks]

pretty close to surpassing the signing thread post volume on the buyout thread. quite an achievement

 

[Tom Hanks]

 

[Speaking Moistly]

Ah, another day in the post JJ world. Feels good.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

I actually don't think I agree that he under-performed. Or at least not by much. That's who he was/is... I don't know that he's actually capable of playing any better. One reason I was very down on this signing from the get-go was watching him bungle around the ice in Columbus. It wasn't hard to notice that the Penguins seemed to have a ton of success whenever he was out there.

But I mean yeah... he found a whole new level of ineptitude in Pittsburgh. But hey... be mad at the GM and especially the coach for that. Not JJ.

 

[pistolpete11]

Regardless of whether or not JMFJ underperformed or not, you don't give 32-year old, bottom pairing, PK specialist defensemen 5 years. JR deserves a ton of flak for that. And if he thought JMFJ was more than that, then he deserves even more blame.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Regardless of whether or not JMFJ underperformed or not, you don't give 32-year old, bottom pairing, PK specialist defensemen 5 years. JR deserves a ton of flak for that. And if he thought JMFJ was more than that, then he deserves even more blame.

Frankly it's the kind of move that ought to get most people fired under normal circumstances. But that whole B2B thing kinda made that impossible.

But hey... you can just trade away your reckless, unforced errors anytime, eh? I've been told that's how that works.

I had forgotten that it was supposedly Sullivan and Gonchar that had a big hand in the signing. Dunno how much I believe that but the way Sullivan played him and only scratched the guy like twice sorta lends credence to that idea. It's kind of amazing how one FA signing put the clown makeup on more than a few people in the organization everyone was swearing by just a few short years ago. And deservedly so.

Still a little shocked they actually bought him out. Only the second time in like 10+ years they've exercised that option.

 

[Gurglesons]

I'm so happy this is still real!

 

[The Great Mighty Poo]

No one will miss him for sure.

Sid and Sully will.

 

[dogthateats]

WOW

 

[Speaking Moistly]

WOW

I’m shaken to my core.

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

I'm so happy this is still real!

 

[Jules Winnfield]

The year before he signed with us, JMFJ turned down a 7 year deal for $25m with the BJs. Why couldn’t he just sign that then...

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

WOW

You're telling me that no other team in the league wants this premier defender for the low, low price of 3.25 mil per?

But I thought there were a number of suitors for him a couple years ago? His standard of play hasn't changed since then...

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

You're telling me that no other team in the league wants this premier defender for the low, low price of 3.25 mil per?

But I thought there were a number of suitors for him a couple years ago? His standard of play hasn't changed since then...

There were all sorts of teams clamoring for his services, you know.

Like, uh... the Kings or something. And... others. LOTS.

 

[Speaking Moistly]

There were all sorts of teams clamoring for his services, you know.

Like, uh... the Kings or something. And... others. LOTS.

Montreal iirc. Montreal tracks since they also signed Alzner to his terrible deal they’re buying out and I want to say they signed another dumb one this year. NHL GMs are a wild ride.

 

[HandshakeLine]

WOW

Absolutely shocked.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Montreal iirc. Montreal tracks since they also signed Alzner to his terrible deal they’re buying out and I want to say they signed another dumb one this year. NHL GMs are a wild ride.

For sure... GMs can be awfully dumb sometimes. I suppose I wouldn't be shocked to hear there was interest from one or two teams. But I just can't bring myself to fully buy this idea that there was a bidding war or something that necessitated THAT contract. Then again I also said it would take at least another season or two (along with a GM and coach replacement) for anything to happen regarding JJ so what do I know.

Also I don't wanna go too far down this rabbit hole because who cares, now... but I gotta wonder how tradeable JJ was LAST year when the world was "normal?" They even managed to up his value a bit. I wonder if there was an attempt? Maybe he really is that toxic of an asset, even before COVID and the financial fallout/preparations drove the final nail.