Article: The Johansson Deal Shows That New Freedoms Won't Break Guerin's Old Habits

[Tony Abbott]

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[TCMooch]

Billl Guerin is an idiot and I absolutely think he is NOT the guy to turn this team around. I think personality wise based on articles from Russo and the Athletic that he's a piece of shit human. I also think he's a terrible GM that is more interested in signing players "like him" than he is on icing the best talent. His obsession with signing aging vets is problematic.

The fact that signing somebody to a 1-year contact at less than 1 million dollars is going to stir controversy and strong opinions is enough of an indicator that this team is headed in the wrong direction.

Edited Tuesday at 03:16 PM by TCMooch

[FredJohnson]

2 minutes ago, TCMooch said:

Billl Guerin is an idiot and I absolutely think he is NOT the guy to turn this team around. I think personality wise based on articles from Russo and the Athletic that he's a piece of shit human. I also think he's a terrible GM that is more interested in signing players "like him" than he is on icing the best talent. His obsession with signing aging vets is problematic.

The fact that signing somebody to a 1-year contact at less than 1 million dollars is going to stir controversy and strong opinions is enough of an indicator that this team is headed in the wrong direction.

I agree.

The only thing that might make sense with this is if NoJo will be competing for a spot on the 4th line.

[Citizen Strife]

This is all moot if Guerin actually finds a good player that is a no-brainer 1st/2nd line guy, maybe two or three.  It only sucks if Mojo is 2nd line wing by default again.  THAT would be true failure.

A fast moving 30 point player making league minimum is hardly an issue if he's depth only.  Next you're gonna tell me Gaudreau is worthless or something.

I want Ohgren and Yurov to be studs.  But the Ohgren we saw last year was barely as good as Johansson.  He has to find a gear that makes him qualified to be a 2nd or 3rd line guy over a vet.

 

[MNCountryLife]

I'm clearly not a Nojo fan.  But at league minimum for a guy that can fill in adequately without giving up goals and play a structured team game that isn't a bad signing.  Can't believe I just supported the Nojo signing.  But he does need to stay in the press box most of the season.

The article does make an excellent point though.  Our 2nd line is Zuc, Hartman and Foligno.  That is a good 3rd line... but not a 2nd.   Our lineup.

1)  Boldy, Ek, Kirill

2)  Ogren, Yurov, Rossi

3)  Zuc, Hartman, Foligno

4)  Freddy, Trenin, Vinnie

We are asking a lot of that 2nd line with 2 rookies.  Rossi is the only Legit Line 2 guy.  Our 4th line has issues as well.  It isn't Freddy's game to play physical and Vinnie just doesn't have it.  If we want to win it needs to be more like the following.

1)  Boldy, Ek, Kirill

2) ?, Rossi ?

3)  Ogren, Yurov, Zuc

4)  Hartman, Trenin, Foligno

Yep, we are missing two essential line 2 players... and that is if we keep Rossi and Ogren and Yurov make it.  Big Question marks there... Good Luck BG.

[Dean]

Fred G and Jo Jo take up roster spots and have proven to be worthless bottom six guys on a  team trying to win a playoff round. .whatever line these guys are on is worthless. Fred g is the worst playoff player and we act like he deserves a spot on this team. Same with Jo Jo. He skates sometimes so he gets a spot. They both have been given opportunities and they waste them. Get rid of them already. This franchise is a joke . The wild wont do anything when they have to carry all of Billy’s dead weight lazy friends and their stupid contracts.  The cherry on top will be an over paid washed up Minnesotan in free agency. This team is going nowhere! Management is clueless and incompetent, the coach is a proven playoff loser and the motto in Iowa is winning doesn’t matter . What a joke of a franchise. 

[Scalptrash]

Quote

Minnesota's middle-six forwards are littered with 30-plus-year-olds who've been around the team for years with zero postseason success.

One sentence sums up the Wild organization under Billy's tenure.

[Citizen Strife]

Yes, because all the young guys other than Rossi, Faber, and Boldy have lit the world on fire.

[IllicitFive]

Vet min for a guy who doesn't dazzle but isn't horrendous. 800k isn't enough money to block anyone from taking that spot, if someone like Heidt, Haight, or Ritchie shows up to camp and plays well enough to EARN and spot and BEAT OUT NoJo, now you have an 800k insurance policy due to injury instead of an AHL player who may not be ready. 

"The fact that signing somebody to a 1-year contact at less than 1 million dollars is going to stir controversy and strong opinions is enough of an indicator that this team is headed in the wrong direction."

I guess I don't see why this is controversial outside of people need it to be. The ask was for signing top 6 guys to help out and add size and scoring, this signing is not that, in fact it helps that possibility by having a player who is a vet, is not injury prone, and can chip in (he put up more than Hartman did during the season but due to a 5 game stretch in round 1 he seems to get a pass).  If he produces 11 g and 23a playing on line 3 or 4 for that price, that would be great. In FA you will over pay and have less money to spend elsewhere, and you still need to fill out all lines, not just top 2.

BUT, and big but, if NOJO is the mainstay line 2 guy again, then this is a failure, line 3 or 4/ insurance policy then I am not mad about it. I am willing to wait and see how the offseason shakes out before grabbing my torch and pitchfork because none of us know what may happen.

[0 Stanley Cups]

So we have a first line, two third lines, and an old veteran fourth line.  Stanley Cup here we come!

Too many players in their thirties, even though I like 38, 17, and 36.  But 13, 89 and 90...hard pass.  We don't even use 89 for shootouts anymore, so what does he bring, because it's not speed. 

Pick off some depth players from winning franchises like FLA, VGK, DAL, TBL, quit searching around the dollar store from somebody else's junk.  At least Fenton somewhat blew up our middling roster in an attempt to get better, except VRask😁

[Scalptrash]

2 hours ago, FredJohnson said:

I agree.

The only thing that might make sense with this is if NoJo will be competing for a spot on the 4th line.

Not even. He should be sitting in the press box waiting for someone to get injured. But even then, a call up would produce better. He ONLY competes hard when wearing the Tre Kronor.

Johansson must have dirt on Billy or he's a secret lover, that's the only explanation for this signing.

[IllicitFive]

4 minutes ago, 0 Stanley Cups said:

So we have a first line, two third lines, and an old veteran fourth line.  Stanley Cup here we come!

Too many players in their thirties, even though I like 38, 17, and 36.  But 13, 89 and 90...hard pass.  We don't even use 89 for shootouts anymore, so what does he bring, because it's not speed. 

Pick off some depth players from winning franchises like FLA, VGK, DAL, TBL, quit searching around the dollar store from somebody else's junk.  At least Fenton somewhat blew up our middling roster in an attempt to get better, except VRask😁

How many you think are signing for 800k? Want to make an impact, dump 36 and maybe 38 as well, opens up much more cap space. Plus gets rid of your age problem. Maybe bring in some young 20 somethings who haven't done anything for cheap that other teams don't see as progressing? How would that help?

[FredJohnson]

10 minutes ago, Scalptrash said:

Not even. He should be sitting in the press box waiting for someone to get injured. But even then, a call up would produce better. He ONLY competes hard when wearing the Tre Kronor.

Johansson must have dirt on Billy or he's a secret lover, that's the only explanation for this signing.

Or this ^^^

[Imyourhuckleberry]

3 hours ago, TCMooch said:

I also think he's a terrible GM that is more interested in signing players "like him" than he is on icing the best talent.

In what ways would you say that Johansson is like Guerin?

[IllicitFive]

12 minutes ago, Imyourhuckleberry said:

In what ways would you say that Johansson is like Guerin?

Old?

[mnfaninnc]

Like a good neighbor, Johansson is there!

From puckpedia, I didn't see any designations for Johansson. This means that waiving and sending to Iowa is no problem. The same goes again for Gaudreau, though he would cost us $1m in dead cap to send down with just an NTC. 

Money is the only thing holding them up here as they would get their full salaries down in Iowa. Honestly, we could probably use a few guys who had NHL salaries down there. 

Like I-5, I see this merely as insurance. Now Johansson can get back to Sweden and have a nice summer break and know where he is going to be at training camp. 

Note to the rookies: Johansson is 5'11" 203 and skates fast. He doesn't bury shots and isn't an assist machine, nor does he consistently take the body. This is what you have to beat! Now, go do it.

[ArizonaWildFan]

43 minutes ago, Imyourhuckleberry said:

In what ways would you say that Johansson is like Guerin?

Dark hair?

[mnfaninnc]

45 minutes ago, Imyourhuckleberry said:

In what ways would you say that Johansson is like Guerin?

Does he look at all like Shooter's caddy?

[SkolWild73]

26 minutes ago, mnfaninnc said:

From puckpedia, I didn't see any designations for Johansson. This means that waiving and sending to Iowa is no problem. The same goes again for Gaudreau, though he would cost us $1m in dead cap to send down with just an NTC. 

I have noticed the same on puckpedia but have seen other reports, the athletic for one that it came with a full no trade clause (according to a league source).  I usually trust puckpedia for this, so hoping they are correct.

[Imyourhuckleberry]

The Athletic seems to think Johansson could have gotten around $2M from other teams, and indicates his old Swedish team wanted him back, but he took around the minimum with the Wild just to stay in MN where his family likes it.

Normally, I would feel a little bit better about that, but they also suggested the contract will include a full no-trade clause, so it sounds like Johansson will need to approve of any move, including waivers.

If that's correct, I'll be back to disliking this deal. Not a horrible vet to have in the press box, I suppose, but I think I'd rather have Hinostoza getting ice time than Johansson. We at least know Stroh's is going to give a full effort, and he finished with a +2 last season, which was better than NoJo's -7.

[ArizonaWildFan]

Hate the signing but love the posts and article.

Definition of stability=stay the same. I guess GMBG signaled what to expect next season, hopefully his final season with the Wild. How about Rossi for Oskar Sundqvist next? 

[TCMooch]

8 minutes ago, ArizonaWildFan said:

Hate the signing but love the posts and article.

Definition of stability=stay the same. I guess GMBG signaled what to expect next season, hopefully his final season with the Wild. How about Rossi for Oskar Sundqvist next? 

This organization could be so lucky as to have this be Guerins last season as GM. Owner thinks he walks on water though so I’m sure he’ll stick around

[mnfaninnc]

5 hours ago, SkolWild73 said:

I have noticed the same on puckpedia but have seen other reports, the athletic for one that it came with a full no trade clause (according to a league source).  I usually trust puckpedia for this, so hoping they are correct.

If that's true, he can still be waived and sent to Iowa.

[Wild for Wild]

Just what we need. Extending another mid 30's aged bottom six winger. I'm sure the fans are hoping on another 30 something point season.

[mnfaninnc]

5 hours ago, Imyourhuckleberry said:

Normally, I would feel a little bit better about that, but they also suggested the contract will include a full no-trade clause, so it sounds like Johansson will need to approve of any move, including waivers.

The difference between a full NTC and an NMC is waivers.