Just wanted to say it is hard to see JJ go. Been defending him for along time on HFBoards.
He's a good add and I imagine will be your best Dman instantly. He makes bone head plays but he has gotten better every year. Hope that the shackles are lifted and he can really show his offensive skills.
Guy has always shown good character, get used to him being much maligned by ignorant posters.
One story I like is that he never leaves his spot on the ice until after the color guard has completely finished and leaves the ice.
I apologize for my grumblings about the Los Angeles area in my reactionary post. It was more an indictment of my disdain for the Hollywood culture than anything Kings-related. Other than the blowout losses the Jackets have suffered at their hands, I have absolutely no problem with the Kings or their fans.
Also, now that I've gotten to eat something and am thinking more straight, I'm a little less pessimistic about JJ coming here. Anyone that helps make sure that other Johnson guy on the team doesn't see ice time, I'm a fan of.
If there's one word Johnson uses to describe himself its "Proud."
You won't get sulking out of him, you'll get a competitive hard-working player with some pretty good skills. Like other kings fans have said, if you slap a letter on him and put him in a leadership role you'll be very happy with him. Whether he wanted to be traded to Columbus or not, the minute he touches down in Ohio he'll be proud to be a member of the Blue Jackets and will strive to be your best defensemen, and best player.
I apologize for my grumblings about the Los Angeles area in my reactionary post. It was more an indictment of my disdain for the Hollywood culture than anything Kings-related. Other than the blowout losses the Jackets have suffered their their hands, I have absolutely no problem with the Kings or their fans.
Also, now that I've gotten to eat something and am thinking more straight, I'm a little less pessimistic about JJ coming here. Anyone that helps make sure that other Johnson guy on the team doesn't see ice time, I'm a fan of.
I've lived in both places (LA and Columbus). Good and bad about both.
Kings fan here. Congrats on getting out from under that deal. JJ is really going to help your PP and while he's not a great defensive player, he's improving. Great skater and puck handler. Good luck with him.
Glad to see Kings fans coming in here with their opinions on Johnson's character. I know their fans are divided on him in many ways, but you don't often see anything but praise from their fans for how Johnson conducts himself.
Someone posted about the culture change earlier, and that was one of my first thoughts as well. Given how widespread negative opinions are on Johnson, I wonder who in the Jackets' organization has a bit more insight into him.
Then we have Tyutin, Nikitin, Moore, Savard, FA signings, etc.... I think Moore will be one of our 6 next year. So, that leaves 3 spots left and I would like to think we want to sign/trade for a defensive defenseman. IMO, that means at least one of Tyutin, Nikitin, and Savard will probably be traded.
JJ is a guy who, for years, I've thought is one of those players with all the tools and no toolbox. He's a physical specimen, good point shot and offensive awareness, nice physicality, etc. but he just really makes some bad decisions frequently, or will completely blow his coverage at the wrong time. He's 24, though, and he's certainly an upgrade on our current D. He has room to grow, and he'll definitely like being the go-to guy for once in the NHL.
I don't know how persistent Howson was about Voynov, but I really would have pined more over him. Solid on both ends, and would have given us a nice Russian connection on the backend. Maybe DL just wouldn't let him go...
Aside from that, I think over the summer we all would have been fine with Jake and JJ being the basis for a trade. Sucks that we had to lose the draft position, but JJ is on his second contract, ergo he is more of a known commodity than Jake, so I suppose that makes a bit of sense. Really hope we can get a decent player with that pick, whether it's this year or next.
I like JJ.... I really do. But this organization just traded away a top line center and now may end up spending the better part of another decade trying to get one...
With Johansen being scratched regularly, Brassard shut-down sensitive to coaching and Boone Jenner skills resting closer to those of a hard-nosed checking center, we will all be pining again for a top line center within two seasons.
We are almost back to square one with one of our biggest organizational needs since this franchise's inception....
We can still trade it though. Now, maybe teams won't want it as much, but it still can be traded. Or maybe we can trade it (if it is a 2013 first round pick) and our first round pick next year to move up if we aren't picking first overall in the 2013 draft.
True, but it has more value to us this year since we are stockpiling picks, making it easier to offer multiple picks to move up.
