Article: How Long Can the Centers Hold For the Wild?

[MNCountryLife]

2 hours ago, Aimlessone said:

Curious what your thoughts are here after the weekend. Johansson continues to produce on the ice. 

I try to provide an honest assessment.  In that I have to admit that Johansson had a great weekend.   He engaged himself in all aspects of the game.  He was all Jekyll.  There was not a single aspect of his game that I disliked.  Hats off to him.  He played very well.  The guy has skill and is a very capable top 6 player.

I hope he keeps it up.  The Wild are a better team when we get this version of Johansson.  I hope he can keep Hyde boxed up.  

[Pewterschmidt]

13 minutes ago, MNCountryLife said:

I try to provide an honest assessment.  In that I have to admit that Johansson had a great weekend.   He engaged himself in all aspects of the game.  He was all Jekyll.  There was not a single aspect of his game that I disliked.  Hats off to him.  He played very well.  The guy has skill and is a very capable top 6 player.

I hope he keeps it up.  The Wild are a better team when we get this version of Johansson.  I hope he can keep Hyde boxed up.  

MNCL, I love the Jekyll and Hyde metaphor.  As a certified long time NoJo hater waiting for this seasons Gypsy spell to reverse and NoJo to go back to Mr Hyde I’ll offer this counterpoint.  Maybe NoJo doesn’t revert back to wet noodle NoJo.  Although if be lying if I said I didn’t want to see some water ski back checks before season ends (drinking game?) Maybe the one year contract keeps him engaged all season.  While this is a damning indictment of his professionalism and his spine, maybe he remains a serviceable middle sixer this season

Edited yesterday at 03:47 PM by Pewterschmidt

[FredJohnson]

On 11/20/2025 at 10:12 AM, Dis-allowed display name said:

I don't care if Yurov earned his chance to play with the top line or not because of injuries to other players, but I hope he gets a decent enough run to prove that he should not be on the fourth line.  I would like him to get a fair shot to prove he should be top six.  Let Ek be on the checking line.  The top six needs a little youth and speed.  He will still have some bumps in the road, but let him play some real minutes with skilled players instead of having to be a grinder.

Might be too much to ask to get NoJo out of the top-6?

[FredJohnson]

1 hour ago, MNCountryLife said:

He engaged himself in all aspects of the game.

Which is completely the opposite of what he was the last 2 seasons. Credit to him for playing well. However, you can’t blame me for expecting his good play coming to an end soon.

[Pewterschmidt]

15 minutes ago, FredJohnson said:

Which is completely the opposite of what he was the last 2 seasons. Credit to him for playing well. However, you can’t blame me for expecting his good play coming to an end soon.

Memo to NoJo: fans will forgive, but won’t forget

[FredJohnson]

21 minutes ago, Pewterschmidt said:

Memo to NoJo: fans will forgive, but won’t forget

(Psst…Just between you and me, I won’t forgive him until he does this for a full season.)

[raithis]

20 minutes ago, FredJohnson said:

(Psst…Just between you and me, I won’t forgive him until he does this for a full season.)

And in non-contract years.  The scale always seems to tilt more Hyde in non-contract years.  Even last year he was playing like he was expecting no resistance to getting re-signed and was guaranteed a spot.

This year he is playing like he is trying to earn playing time.

[FredJohnson]

1 hour ago, raithis said:

And in non-contract years.  The scale always seems to tilt more Hyde in non-contract years.  Even last year he was playing like he was expecting no resistance to getting re-signed and was guaranteed a spot.

This year he is playing like he is trying to earn playing time.

To be fair...he's on a pretty cheap contract.