Penguins sign LW Adam Johnson to 2 yr entry-level contract

YouTube · Postby **mikey** » Thu Jul 06, 2017 2:48 pm

Adam Johnson ('94) played for two years at the University of Minnesota-Duluth (nat'l champs)...finished second on the team in goals (18) and points (37) in 42 games last year...was a first-team all-star in his last year in the USHL (2015)...

Postby **MalkinIsMyHomeboy** » Thu Jul 06, 2017 2:54 pm

odds he makes any impact in the NHL?

Postby **meow** » Thu Jul 06, 2017 2:55 pm

Johnson is a phenomenal skater. Explosive first three steps. High end speed. Strong on his edges.

Postby **columbia** » Thu Jul 06, 2017 2:55 pm

odds he makes any impact in the NHL?

Slightly higher than mikey's chances.

Postby **meow** » Thu Jul 06, 2017 2:59 pm

mikey still pushes a chair

Postby **shafnutz05** » Thu Jul 06, 2017 3:11 pm

https://www.sbncollegehockey.com/2017/7 ... h-penguins

We ranked Johnson as one of the ten best NHL free agents in college hockey last season, and the 87th-best overall NHL prospect in the NCAA:

Johnson was a prospect that drew serious attention from NHL Central Scouting in his first year of NHL Draft eligibility, way back in 2012, due in large part to his explosive skating ability. But ultimately teams backed off because of a lack of physical maturity and a lack of toughness he showed playing against weak high school competition.

Five years later, two years of junior hockey and two years in college hockey has really matured Johnson’s game. He has filled out his frame a bit and plays a much heavier game while still maintaining that explosive quickness. He has the tools to be a very effective winger at the NHL level.

YouTube · Postby **mikey** » Thu Jul 06, 2017 3:19 pm

mikey still pushes a chair

YouTube · Postby **mikey** » Mon Jul 10, 2017 1:43 pm

This guy isn't bad...

Postby **meow** » Mon Jul 10, 2017 2:00 pm

Oh yeah. Dude can play. College was the perfect route for him.

YouTube · Postby **mikey** » Mon Jul 10, 2017 2:05 pm

I just re-watched a chunk of the national championship game...depending on his summer, I wouldn't be shocked if he made the team...or at least made it really tough to send him down...evidently he can play all three forward positions and has filled in at defense for a spell...and unlike ZAR, he can really wheel...

Postby **Great58** » Mon Jul 10, 2017 3:37 pm

Has our scouting department evolved in order to land all these NCAA free agents that we've gotten over the past few years, or are we just a more desirable destination than a few years back? Maybe it's just my perception, but it seems like there's a lot more undrafted talent now than we've been able to acquire than ever before?

YouTube · Postby **mikey** » Mon Jul 10, 2017 3:47 pm

It's a combo really...it's hard to think that under Ray Shero we weren't pursuing top-end college free agents...every team in the league was...sometimes you get them, sometimes you don't...different clubs offer different perks...we're currently in the Stanley Cup business and "you can walk out of your dorm and play on a line with Sidney Crosby" business...both are weighted highly, I imagine...

Postby **Great58** » Mon Jul 10, 2017 3:57 pm

It's a combo really...it's hard to think that under Ray Shero we weren't pursuing top-end college free agents...every team in the league was...sometimes you get them, sometimes you don't...different clubs offer different perks...we're currently in the Stanley Cup business and "you can walk out of your dorm and play on a line with Sidney Crosby" business...both are weighted highly, I imagine...

I guess the biggest difference then is the perception that Dano wouldn't play youth while Sullivan relies on it.

YouTube · Postby **mikey** » Mon Jul 10, 2017 4:03 pm

I don't really find that to be accurate and/or that describes every coach in the league at almost every level. Sully played the players he had...just like Babcock (long derided for playing vets) played what he had...he happened to have like 3 of the top 5 players in Calder voting, but that's just the hand he was dealt...coaches generally want to win because there's a high correlation between winning and paychecks/cheques...

Postby **Great58** » Mon Jul 10, 2017 4:34 pm

Which is why I said perception. I can't remember who Craig Adams kept out of the lineup with his nightly sweater, but if it were Bobby Farnham it's hard to say Dan was wrong for that.

Postby **shmenguin** » Mon Jul 10, 2017 5:39 pm

Which is why I said perception. I can't remember who Craig Adams kept out of the lineup with his nightly sweater, but if it were Bobby Farnham it's hard to say Dan was wrong for that.

dan didn't like verterans. he liked coachable players. which is why he opted to go into the 2013 playoffs with such a shitty bottom 6 and we paid the price.

Postby **Dickie Dunn** » Mon Jul 10, 2017 6:22 pm

Dan coached?

Postby **pens_ct** » Mon Jul 10, 2017 7:00 pm

This guy isn't bad...

So do you think he fits more as a left wing or a center?

YouTube · Postby **mikey** » Mon Jul 10, 2017 7:13 pm

Probably LW, it's tough to just walk on to being a center in the show...

Postby **columbia** » Mon Jul 10, 2017 7:18 pm

Mikey pegs me as a LWer, but I'm more inclined towards C.

Postby **Staggy** » Mon Jul 10, 2017 8:15 pm

It's also funny to think that Chicago signed Panarin after they just won the Cup while we brought in Plodnikov, and somehow we were the team that won the next 2 Cups.

Postby **columbia** » Mon Jul 10, 2017 8:17 pm

Any chatter as to the real reason they ditched Panarin? (Kane was all bummed out.) It seems imprudent to ditch him for the return they got.

Postby **MR25** » Mon Jul 10, 2017 8:32 pm

Apparently Toews and Kane asked to get Saad back.

Postby **columbia** » Mon Jul 10, 2017 8:33 pm

Hmmm....Patty was whining about it, in the article I read.

Postby **shmenguin** » Mon Jul 10, 2017 9:12 pm

saad's price is known and manageable. panarin's could skyrocket.