Confirmed with Link: Rangers sign D Jack Johnson to one-year deal

[SingnBluesOnBroadway]

Let ME tell.

Here are the UFA LD signed yesterday for under $1.5m

Brandon Davidson - $700k
Andreas Borgman - $700k
Anthony Bitetto - $737,500
Derrick Pouliot - $700k
Luca Sbisa - $800k
Nathan Beaulieu - $1.25m
Jon Merrill - $925k

Are these guys significantly better than Jack Johnson? No. Maybe slightly, but they're all of about the same quality.

I honestly had no idea Luca Sbisa was still in the league.

But I didn't ask you!

 

[kovazub94]

and we needed the worst defenseman in the NHL for that? it couldn't be a competent vet?

Wouldn’t a more competent vet be a bigger roadblock to prospects’ getting their reps on the Rangers?

I just said it in the post that you responded that it was a silver lining as I’m sure not many fans are happy with this signing. Here’s a couple of items to put on a positive scale:

1. Low roadblock to overcome for Miller and / or other LD to take over a roster spot
2. Low cost to send to Hartford if needed and be a mentor there
3. Doesn’t stop the Rangers to find a more prominent and competent LD via trades or as other teams continue to put more players on waivers or via buyouts

 

[SingnBluesOnBroadway]

Wouldn’t a more competent vet be a bigger roadblock to prospects’ getting their reps on the Rangers?

I just said it in the post that you responded that it was a silver lining as I’m sure not many fans are happy with this signing. Here’s a couple of items to put on a positive scale:

1. Low roadblock to overcome for Miller and / or other LD to take over a roster spot
2. Low cost to send to Hartford if needed and be a mentor there
3. Doesn’t stop the Rangers to find a more prominent and competent LD via trades or as other teams continue to put more players on waivers or via buyouts

I think it's very possible that this conversation happened:

JD: Ok, we need a low-cost, good, left defenseman. What are you thinking?

JG: I have an idea: what if we go in the opposite direction and go out and get the worst defenseman in the league?

JD: You, know, that's just crazy enough that it might work. Ya got moxie kid — I like that.

 

[Mikos87]

I'd say Jon Merrill is a clear cut best of the lot based on the publicly available data... but... I'd also say that say that my coach of the year was not a nominee for the jack adams.

 

[LionsHeart]

It’s only for a year, so I’m not going to lose sleep over this, but still, they could’ve done better.

 

[Captain Monglobster]

Wouldn’t a more competent vet be a bigger roadblock to prospects’ getting their reps on the Rangers?

Yea this signing is the definition of veteran stop gap.

 

[kovazub94]

I think it's very possible that this conversation happened:

JD: Ok, we need a low-cost, good, left defenseman. What are you thinking?

JG: I have an idea: what if we go in the opposite direction and go out and get the worst defenseman in the league?

JD: You, know, that's just crazy enough that it might work. Ya got moxie kid — I like that.

I like how quickly JD and JG got on the same page.

 

[kovazub94]

Yea this signing is the definition of veteran stop gap.

Stop gap is offended.

 

[SingnBluesOnBroadway]

I like how quickly JD and JG got on the same page.

It's the sign of a good front office.

 

[kovazub94]

It's the sign of a good front office.

Should’ve added Drury to the scene as he was entering the doorway with two hot lattes in his hands for his bosses and a draft contract for JJ in his pocket.

 

[Adam Fox Time]

It's really frustrating that Zach Bogosian, who played well for the team that just won the Stanley Cup, signed for 1yr/$1M

If you have to sign Jack Johnson, fine. But why sign him on the first day of free agency - within the first few two of free agency at that? Why give him anything over $1 million, or anything more than league minimum? The Rangers were probably bidding against themselves.

JJ probably isn't going to see that much time in the NHL but any way you look at it this signing is worrying at best. Hire him as the team motivational speaker if he's such a great locker room guy.

 

[Barnaby]

JD must know him from Columbus and Martin from Pitt. He’s a 6/7 who will likely be the stay at home guy next to ADA. He doesn’t get me revved up but he’s fine for his role. Honestly, kinda funny how many people are generally angry about this move. He didn’t get a 5 year deal ala Staal.

 

[Pizza]

It would not be the Rangersphere if JG/JD didn't take advantage of an opportunity to thrill and then completely piss off the fan base in the space of a day and a half.

 

[charliemurphy]

So why bother moving Staal out. Could have just let him finish his contract out.

How much was Staal due?

 

[egelband]

With Johnson, I think this kind of signing is pretty inevitable. Seems like all coaches, or at least most of them, require a veteran, stay-at-home, shot-blocking, good-locker-room-guy, security-blanket-type defender. If it’s not Staal, it’s Johnson. If it’s not Johnson, it’ll be someone similar. I guess we can just be glad he’s inexpensive and hope he’ll be used sparingly and the young guys step up sooner rather than later.

 

[cwede]

With Johnson, I think this kind of signing is pretty inevitable. Seems like all coaches, or at least most of them, require a veteran, stay-at-home, shot-blocking, good-locker-room-guy, security-blanket-type defender. If it’s not Staal, it’s Johnson. If it’s not Johnson, it’ll be someone similar. I guess we can just be glad he’s inexpensive and hope he’ll be used sparingly and the young guys step up sooner rather than later.

he is cheap, for only 1 year,
and could easily bring back a 2d or 3rd at TDL, or from contender caught short on D

 

[bobbop]

It's really frustrating that Zach Bogosian, who played well for the team that just won the Stanley Cup, signed for 1yr/$1M

If you have to sign Jack Johnson, fine. But why sign him on the first day of free agency - within the first few two of free agency at that? Why give him anything over $1 million, or anything more than league minimum? The Rangers were probably bidding against themselves.

JJ probably isn't going to see that much time in the NHL but any way you look at it this signing is worrying at best. Hire him as the team motivational speaker if he's such a great locker room guy.

Bogosian had much higher offers, perhaps one from the Rangers. He took less money to play in Toronto.

 

[Thirty One]

If you say you would rather have just kept Staal, your post should include a plan to clear $4.55 million in cap.

 

[egelband]

he is cheap, for only 1 year,
and could easily bring back a 2d or 3rd at TDL, or from contender caught short on D

I’m not really even against the deal. It’s coach-think versus fan-think and ‘it is what it is’. Just wanted to point out we were going to have this kind of player regardless. I’d say.

 

[The Mouth]

this was a lifeline thrown out by J.D who has had him in columbus and I think St.louis. Guy needs cash. I think his playing time will be negligible on the the Rangers

 

[motopanekeku]

With Johnson, I think this kind of signing is pretty inevitable. Seems like all coaches, or at least most of them, require a veteran, stay-at-home, shot-blocking, good-locker-room-guy, security-blanket-type defender. If it’s not Staal, it’s Johnson. If it’s not Johnson, it’ll be someone similar. I guess we can just be glad he’s inexpensive and hope he’ll be used sparingly and the young guys step up sooner rather than later.

I see it solely as a replacement for the league experience they lost with Staal. JJ sucks but he knows the league and he can give the rookies a lot of shortcuts and advice. That's worth something.

 

[TominNC]

They paid, 1.15M for the worst defenseman in the league. So for that money you could literally sign ANY other NHL defenseman and it would be an improvement. Whether he plays 10-12-15 minutes a night, PURPOSELY adding the worst defenseman in the league is a mistake. There, I said it without getting hysterical.

 

[True Blue]

With Johnson, I think this kind of signing is pretty inevitable. Seems like all coaches, or at least most of them, require a veteran, stay-at-home, shot-blocking, good-locker-room-guy, security-blanket-type defender. If it’s not Staal, it’s Johnson. If it’s not Johnson, it’ll be someone similar. I guess we can just be glad he’s inexpensive and hope he’ll be used sparingly and the young guys step up sooner rather than later.

It's a signing that is a bit of a security blanket. If one of the kids comes to camp and blows away the competition (Johnson in this case), great. Then it is no big deal for Johnson to be a spare part or even be shifted to Hartford if need be. If, otoh, one of the kids does not do that, then you have a low cost third pairing veteran defenseman who becomes a stop gap until 1) one of the kids is ready or 2) a good trading opportunity comes up.

This signing is really not a big deal.

 

[DanielBrassard]

It's a signing that is a bit of a security blanket. If one of the kids comes to camp and blows away the competition (Johnson in this case), great. Then it is no big deal for Johnson to be a spare part or even be shifted to Hartford if need be. If, otoh, one of the kids does not do that, then you have a low cost third pairing veteran defenseman who becomes a stop gap until 1) one of the kids is ready or 2) a good trading opportunity comes up.

This signing is really not a big deal.

This could have been said about any other UFA defenseman, and a few who were even cheaper than Johnson, all who were better.

 

[True Blue]

This could have been said about any other UFA defenseman, and a few who were even cheaper than Johnson, all who were better.

Maybe. But not sure if those defensemen would be looked as not a big deal to sit or send to AHL