Confirmed Signing with Link: [NYI] Ross Johnston re-signs for four years, $1M AAV one-way

[Kamiccolo]

After seeing the things said about Tavares, I am all for dumping on the Islanders fanbase, but I don't see the issue here. It's 1M. If he sucks then waive him and it's no big deal. Islanders won't be a cap team for 5 years anyway.

 

[wej20]

Did he reject a 3 year deal at 1m per?

 

[Dough72]

Lou just watched his high flying Leafs team get their asses handed to them in the playoffs because they had diddly squat for toughness. Guess he's not planning to make that mistake again.

 

[Filthy Dangles]

I know hockey. No one is expecting him to score 20 goals but I think it’s fair to expect 10 goals while being a physical presence and playing responsible defensively. This kid understands his role and he doesn’t make mistakes when he’s on the ice. As a 4th Line winger you can do a heck of a lot worse than this kid.

There's honestly not much worse you can do than playing Ross Johnston 10 minutes a night. He's Tanner Glass 2.0.

Can't score, generate shots, your team will be caved in when he's out there. But he can punch faces and eat some too.

 

[VoluntaryDom]

meh

 

[Lahey]

Lou just watched his high flying Leafs team get their asses handed to them in the playoffs because they had diddly squat for toughness. Guess he's not planning to make that mistake again.

Yeah somehow I don’t think that’s his plan here.. considering he signed both Leo and traded for Matt Martin.. who were both on the leafs lol. This is a tank move cause their org is badly set up

 

[Dough72]

Yeah somehow I don’t think that’s his plan here.. considering he signed both Leo and traded for Matt Martin.. who were both on the leafs lol. This is a tank move cause their org is badly set up

Martin didn't dress for the playoffs and leo was injured

 

[Notsince67]

Ross the boss!!

He’s not well known but he’s big,tough, can skate, and actually can play hockey. Very very good 4th liner.

How many do you need though?

 

[SI90]

There's honestly not much worse you can do than playing Ross Johnston 10 minutes a night. He's Tanner Glass 2.0.

Can't score, generate shots, your team will be caved in when he's out there. But he can punch faces and eat some too.

Just curious, how many islanders games have you watched in which Ross Johnston has played in?

 

[hockeynorth]

Martin didn't dress for the playoffs and leo was injured

Leo was healthy, he was hurt just for the first one or two I believe

 

[me2]

The Devils will be up like 4-0, so who cares?

I'd imagine the Devils if the reason they are up 4-0 is the goons knocked Hirschier or Hall out of the season. I doubt the Islanders care about the 4-0, they look like a lottery team this year.

 

[SI90]

How many do you need though?

That’s a fair question. My feeling is Lou and Trotz are trying to create a certain culture. Losing Tavares changed the islanders game plan. The plan now is to Build around Barzal. I suspect Lou is bringing in high character grinding type players to help establish and set a tone. There isn’t any top6 guys available to sign. The length of the contracts are a bit odd but the cap hits aren’t crippling.

 

[VainGretzky]

I thought about this deal trying to figure the reasoning , well all I can say is kickbacks only makes sense .

 

[PWJunior]

That’s a fair question. My feeling is Lou and Trotz are trying to create a certain culture. Losing Tavares changed the islanders game plan. The plan now is to Build around Barzal. I suspect Lou is bringing in high character grinding type players to help establish and set a tone. There isn’t any top6 guys available to sign. The length of the contracts are a bit odd but the cap hits aren’t crippling.

We're going to be bad, but we'll be a bitch to play against. If you cross the line with Barzal and the other kids, we have multiple bash brothers looking out for them. It is what it is.

'At least we're not getting killed out there...'

 

[Cotton]

Martin didn't dress for the playoffs and leo was injured

Good eye, I guess you didn’t catch that the Leafs out-hit them in some of the games, it ended up being very close, as was the series, which was decided in the 3rd period of game 7.

You sell hot-takes for a living, or is this just a hobby?

 

[Nick Hansen]

Lamoriello's taken some quite odd decisions since arriving to the Isles. This guy's got 25 NHL games and 6 pts and you're signing him for 4 years? The AAV is negligible but still.

 

[Irishguy42]

Oh, didn’t realize it went up lol

Yup.

Max buriable amount is league minimum + 375k

League minimum went up to 650k last season and remains at that for this season.

2019-2020 and 2020-2021 will have a league minimim of 700k, then 2021-2022 will be 750k.

Assuming no lockout, of course.

 

[LordNeverLose]

Not sure why the term is a big deal to people.

If he becomes unplayable you bury him in the AHL, if he turns out to be a good fourth liner you don't lose him to UFA within the next 4 years like what happened to Matt Martin.

 

[seafoam]

Squeaks in juuuuuuuust below the max buriable amount ($1.025M)

Yup, definitely done on purpose.

 

[Irishguy42]

Not sure why the term is a big deal to people.

If he becomes unplayable you bury him in the AHL, if he turns out to be a good fourth liner you don't lose him to UFA within the next 4 years like what happened to Matt Martin.

Who cares if you lose him to UFA? There will always be fourth liners available in UFA who are the same, if not better, and can be had for the same price.

 

[me2]

as if that makes a difference?

This isnt NHL 18, two way deals only affect payment

The cap hit threshold for players in the minors this year from memory is $1.025m, so the first $1.025m of any contract in the minors is exempt from the salary cap.

It's still a dumb contract, and it still costs real money in the minors, NYI aren't exactly TO when it comes to money problems (like where to store it all when the vaults are full).

 

[Dr Quincy]

it's a symptom of the larger issue that Lou wants to commit long term to guys who are pretty redundant

Eh. The dude is what 23? If he loses his job in 2 seasons he provides vet presence and the fisticuffs attraction that works in the AHL.

I'm not overly fond of this type of player, but I don't think this is a bad deal. If anything it just makes the Martin acquisition seem totally unnecessary. I'd much rather commit 4 years to Johnston at this point as opposed to even 1 of Martin.

 

[LordNeverLose]

Who cares if you lose him to UFA? There will always be fourth liners available in UFA who are the same, if not better, and can be had for the same price.

And who cares if he becomes the worst hockey player ever? There's no downside. His contract can be buried for no cap hit. The new owners just gave Barry Trotz 25 million and Leo Komarov 12 million, I don't think they're worried about cash.

 

[Pestilence]

Wow you’re still in this? The doctors cleared him. Yeah Lou should have went against the Medical professionals

Indeed, that is precisely what happened. I mean, after all, Peluso was asked whether he was okay to play, and he said 'yeah', so Lou should not have any responsibility for anything that might've happened after that.

Oh yeah,

 

[weems]

Lou just watched his high flying Leafs team get their asses handed to them in the playoffs because they had diddly squat for toughness. Guess he's not planning to make that mistake again.

Yep they certainly got "their asses handed to them".

Had a lead going into the 3rd period of game 7 on the road.