Former Bruins Marcus Johansson - Sabres sign forward Marcus Johansson to two-year contract

[Domenic Pazzia]

My understanding is they already talked to him about extension prior to the regular season ending.

:shrug:

He bet on himself and is winning big time. Earning more dollars with each game .

 

[BNHL]

Mixed him up with Pasta a couple of times,excellent game.

 

[Alberta_OReilly_Fan]

Thanks for informing me on this. I was unaware just how difficult the cap is. Being the lowly fan I am, I've never been able to grasp every thing to know about the cap. Luckily, we have you here to tell us all about it!



Well yes....He hasn't been used at center since coming to Boston. He's been used primarily at wing. So with that, why would Boston decide this offseason to trade Krejci (center) to keep Johansson (winger). I don't really care if Johansson grew up a center, was drafted as a center, and has played center at times during his career. You have to go back to 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 to find a season where Johansson took over 500 faceoffs in a season.

The last 5 years, here are Johansson's faceoff numbers:

2018-2019: 58 GP -- 50 Faceoffs = 0.87 FO/Gm
2017-2018: 29 GP -- 74 Faceoffs = 2.5 FO/Gm
2016-2017: 82 GP -- 28 Faceoffs = 0.34 FO/Gm
2015-2016: 74 GP -- 274 Faceoffs = 3.7 FO/Gm
2014-2015: 82 GP -- 14 Faceoffs = 0.17 FO/Gm

In the last 5 years, Johansson has played in 325 games played and has taken 440 faceoffs. That's and average of 1.4 faceoffs per game. That's winger type numbers. For his total career, he's played in 588 games and has taken 2186 faceoffs. That averages out to about 3.7 faceoffs/gm. He has a 41.8 FOW% at center for his career. He's never been above 50% in a season for FOW. Keep in mind he took 1379 of those 2186 faceoffs in his first two seasons.



You lose depth at center if you trade Krejci to keep Johansson. Coyle isn't a #2 center. Johansson clearly is not a #2 center...He's not even a #3 center. You're suggesting this to make room for a rookie? Lets not.... It failed tremendously this year when they tried to do it with Krejci. I don't see any of those suggestions as options next year for a full time center spot.

I highly doubt your suggestion of moving Krejci to keep a guy like Johansson is a move that a pro team would consider.



I don't because including Krejci in that point, and trying to argue it doesn't make sense. Trading Backes to make room for Johansson? That makes sense. Backes has played winger since getting here, just like Johansson. Krejci is a Top 6 center on this team. Why would you move him to keep a Top 9 winger (primarily 3LW).

I wanted to just throw out a caution about relying on faceoff numbers to determin if a guy can play center or not

I will throw out examples like tyler seguin and max domi more recently as guys who were being used as wingers in one team but who easily/successfully made the switch to center with their new team. it wasnt really a count of their faceoffs taken that determined if they could play center, but was more just about their style/willingness/ability

history is full of a lot of examples where guys were played more on the wing and then switched to center later because that was their best position. from old timers like mark messier through mats sundin and chris drury and up to recent times with a Brayden schenn there just is times when a team has so much depth at center that an otherwise natural center would end up on wing

as for Johansson he was a fulltime center his first 2 years until 2012... niklas Backstrom came along and pushed him down the depth charts... jay beagle was considered one of the leagues best 3rd line centers... so there was only the 1 spot open for Johansson to remain at center. then Washington went out and tried to bring in some 'veterns' over the next couple years to give them a bit more experience. you could say Johansson didnt play center well enough to keep his job. or you could say Washington wasnt comfortable with that many kids down the middle. after a couple years knutsev was there and Johansson is an ok player but clearly isnt going to be above Backstrom/knutsev on anyones depth chart

moving over to new jersey he had adam Henrique/travis Zajac as incumbants and then zacha and hischere as the kids of tomorrow... its hard to get opportunity to play center with too much competition. boyle was around to plug a hole there too

so I guess if you ask me... do I think Johansson is a good enough center to beat out guys like Henrique/Zajac/riberio/garbovski for second line duty throughout his career... the answer would seem to be no. hes not an elite option for a good team to throw out there as a second line center and feel happy about. but that isnt really what I was trying to say at all

I said basically that the bruins have been developing some kid centers for awhile now... while krejci has been aging and has been drawing critism more and more with his big cap hit. for quite awhile now it appeared boston was hoping to get a better option than krejci on the team. this past year it went so far as to do contract negotiations with john Tavares. the kids have gotten another year of ahl seasoning.

at some point the kids either need to play or they will bust. counting on kids to step into a center spot on a team without any plan B is not considered a good idea.

having extra centers playing wing positions has long been something boston has liked to do as a matter of insurance. you can look at the cup winning team... Nathan Horton was a center used as a wing on the top line... mark recchi had often played center and was used as a wing on the second line... peverly/Kelly were 2 centers playing together on the 3rd line... and seguin was around also being used as a winger when he got into games.

so anyhow... thats why my original post was made that "if krejci is going to be moved, I can see more of an argument for being able to/and wanting to bring Johansson back" and thats where I connect the two.

as a winger only... I dont see the fit
does Johansson play ahead of pastrnak/marchand? no... so that moves him down
is he going to play ahead of debrusk? I say no...
at best he is now our 4th winger on the depth chart

do we want to be paying our 4th best winger 5 million? what does that mean for Heinen and his future? do we think Johansson is significantly better than Heinen? can we afford both guys if neither can play center?

will coyle move to wing when federic/karlsson/studnicka make the team? is it better to keep Johansson as a winger on a 3 year deal and let coyle walk? or save the space for coyle?

can we afford 6 wingers if none of them are on elc contacts? what about Bjork/senshyn? are we going to write them off?

you see the issue im talking about? where is the spot in the lineup we want to put Johansson on a 3-4 year deal at 4.5-5.5 million cap hit?

if he can play wing and be a backup center option to help us break in a kid like studnicka or federic then theres a stronger case to be made in his support than if hes ONLY a wing and competing with Heinen/coyle for 4/5 spot on the depth chart

 

[rocketdan9]

this move was filthy.... too bad it didn't lead to a goal. But it is so slick..... I hope the Bruins find a way to keep him

Johansson move

 

[JCRO]

this move was filthy.... too bad it didn't lead to a goal. But it is so slick..... I hope the Bruins find a way to keep him

Johansson move

He was UNREAL tonight.

Had the puck on a string.

Should’ve had at least two.

I too hope they find a way to retain him

 

[rocketdan9]

He was UNREAL tonight.

Had the puck on a string.

Should’ve had at least two.

I too hope they find a way to retain him

I hope he can give a hometown discount

he could probably get 5 million in the market but Bruins can only afford to give 4 million per season (same as now pretty much)

 

[The don godfather]

Thank you Mr shero!

 

[PB37]

Looked amazing tonight, especially on zone entries.

 

[compan]

Mojo earned that second star. If he keeps that up, this will be a quick series if the rest of the lines play like they’re capable of. He’s finding his groove at the right time.

 

[Fossy21]

Mojo earned that second star. If he keeps that up, this will be a quick series if the rest of the lines play like they’re capable of. He’s finding his groove at the right time.

Imagine winning a game with all that rust without a point from the top 9 (save for Marchy’s ENG). A lot of things to be optimistic about: Neither of the top three lines will be shut down the rest of the way. The third line could well end up being key.

 

[BruinsPortugal]

Best player on the ice last night.

 

[Blowfish]

He was UNREAL tonight.

Had the puck on a string.

Should’ve had at least two.

I too hope they find a way to retain him

He's been good since the bruins picked him up....need to find a way to retain him.

 

[CDJ]

He may be the best player on the planet

Dudes getting paid this offseason. I’d love to have him back but the term and cash he’s gonna get w his injury history is concerning

 

[Estlin]

If he continues to contribute to the team winning the Stanley Cup, then great. I will, however, be amazed if he returns to Boston next season.

 

[KnightofBoston]

I like Heinen but I’d consider moving him (letting him go?) to keep Marcus

Perhaps the bruins can move Backes as well, maybe back to the blues?

 

[BNHL]

Superb performance.

 

[The National]

That was the best he’s looked these playoffs and probably as a Bruin. He makes everyone around him better, that second PP unit especially.

He seems to have some great chemistry with Coyle & Heinen. He looks good with Pasta & Krejci as well.

 

[TP]

I like Heinen but I’d consider moving him (letting him go?) to keep Marcus

Perhaps the bruins can move Backes as well, maybe back to the blues?

I would love to keep Marcus, but the only way Backes goes is to get a team to the cap floor.

 

[compan]

Imagine winning a game with all that rust without a point from the top 9 (save for Marchy’s ENG). A lot of things to be optimistic about: Neither of the top three lines will be shut down the rest of the way. The third line could well end up being key.

That was the most encouraging thing. The top line had a pretty bad game by their standards and just looked off. Perhaps the Blues spent their entire break practicing how to shut them down and figured they will take their chance with a depth vs depth. Unfortunate result if that is the case. That game could had easily been 6-2 if 2 shots were an inch more inside too.

 

[Kalus]

If he continues to contribute to the team winning the Stanley Cup, then great. I will, however, be amazed if he returns to Boston next season.

Right. He wins a cup and everybody knows he played a huge part in it. Thank him for a job well done and let him go get a nice fat contract.

If he isn't going to be on the 2nd line, he is a luxury the Bruins can't afford. Also would rather they reserve the contracts that bring guys into their mid 30s for superstars.

 

[JOKER 192]

He did an exclusive interview after the game on TVA . He said he was having the time of his life and looked like he really meant it. Maybe it's just in the moment but he certainly sounded like someone who had found his fit on this team.

 

[Mainehockey33]

I would love to keep Marcus, but the only way Backes goes is to get a team to the cap floor.

I like Backes but man I hope this happens. We have no prospects in the system that will make an impact in the next few years like Johansson. He creates matchup problems when he’s on the 3rd line and gives them some time breaking in a prospect on Krejci’s line.

I would feel bad for Backes if he was sent to a bottom feeder. I think retiring a champion would be a fitting end to a great career.

 

[Trap Jesus]

I was hating on him as recent as midway through the 1st round. He's done a complete 180 since. Can't believe the amount of skill he has.

 

[Ratty]

I like Backes but man I hope this happens. We have no prospects in the system that will make an impact in the next few years like Johansson. He creates matchup problems when he’s on the 3rd line and gives them some time breaking in a prospect on Krejci’s line.

I would feel bad for Backes if he was sent to a bottom feeder. I think retiring a champion would be a fitting end to a great career.

No way does Backes leave 12 mil on the table to retire a champion. Unless, of course, his health compels him to hang ‘em up or is bought out.

If his shoulder is fixed I see Bjork as an impact winger playing either with DK or on CC’s wing.

 

[Mainehockey33]

No way does Backes leave 12 mil on the table to retire a champion. Unless, of course, his health compels him to hang ‘em up or is bought out.

If his shoulder is fixed I see Bjork as an impact winger playing either with DK or on CC’s wing.

I always forget about Bjork. At this point I’m thinking Senyshyn or Studnicka has just as good of a chance for that RW spot.