...And Sometimes Other Johnsons Don't Quite Measure Up

Patience is the key, but I like EJ’s game. While I understand why you might have a tepid approach toward viewing Norris type star play from him, I see how his game translates to an upside for him. He has good to great puck handling ability. Right now, it’s too loose, and he makes mental errors, like leaving the puck behind, and he isn’t always calm, but I’m optimistic his game will mature as the team’s does. He’s big, but doesn’t use his body as well as he might, but that, again can improve. Much of what holds him back is the huge responsibility of being the no. 1 guy. You are very right in mentioning the mentors so many of the Norris winners had. I look at the lower list with Morris and Skoula and think when they had their decent years with the Avs, they were surrounded by the Blakes, Bourques, and Footes, so they did not have to brunt the force of being the guy on D. Plus, they had a slew of forwards, like Forsberg, Sakic, Duk, and Tangs, who could possess the puck down low, which makes it a whole lot easier to play, than the sometimes scrambly pucks that pop off wayward forwards sticks of the present day Avs. I think EJ is far away a better player than either Skoula or Morris, based on his overall skill level and just watching him play. EJ feels the responsibility, all the time. He does try to do too much, at times, to prove he is that overall no. 1 pick, but I like the fact he does hold himself accountable as the no. 1 guy and I think he does it pretty well. All things considered, I don’t disagree that he could end up not being a consistent, great defenseman, but I like his chances. I think he’s got special qualities, and they’ll show up. I do wish Sacco would quit playing him with Hejda. Those two can play some brutal hockey, and, at times, look like siamese twins removed, in a bad way.

Why do you hate the Avs?

I too wish EJ had some help. Hedja, even though he’s 33, has only been in the NHL for 5 seasons, the same as O’Brien and Quincey. We have zero blueline vets – EJ’s responsible for carrying this team pretty much by himself. It’s kind of unfair, really: the forwards have Duke, the goalies have Giggy, and the defensemen have no one. But we do have Lefebvre. It would be better if there was a vet on the ice helping EJ out, but having a Stanley Cup-winning defensemen talking to him in practice is the next best thing. And I think the Avs have kept Adam Foote nearby – hopefully he can help too.

I still like EJ’s chances of becoming a reliable #1 guy even if he isn’t Norris caliber. And honestly, I think that he still has enough upside reach Norris level. Like I said in my article, he’s put up really, really good numbers despite playing on pretty crappy teams. If EJ was on the Kings roster instead of Doughty, I think their numbers would be very different. EJ is still a very, very good young defenseman who I have high hopes for. Sylvain Lebebvre’s just got his work cut out for him.

Funny that Skoula is on this list. I was cleaning out my childhood room recently, and found a sports section from the day after the Avs won their second cup. There was a delightful article about how the Avs would be relying on their great young defenseman Skoula to keep up his strong play.

Yeah, that worked out REALLY well for us.

Hejda was +23 with the BJs. That’s nice. But he was +43 in his first two years. Okay, now the math junkies calculate what he was in his last two years.

+23 doesn’t look as nice. But I still like Hejda. He’s not flashy, but when he’s on, he does a great job of just eliminating the play. It’s thankless work most people don’t notice or care about, and what we need more of.

I’ve said it before, but I think EJ needs a mentor on the ice with him. You could call that “help”, but having a vet on the ice to help get EJ some confidence in his passing, etc. would be huge. A player, especially a defensemen I’d speculate, can progress a hell of a lot faster and even past the point he would’ve otherwise, with “help” like that.

Speaking of D-men, be sure to check out the Wilson articles on Denver Post. ’Bout time somebody wrote an article on the fella

Thanks for some sunshine and even-headedness.