Final Grade: Erik Johnson
by David Driscoll-Carignan on May 6, 2011 7:00 AM MDT
in Final Grades 2011
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PrintThis report card is a joint effort by Beachie, Sandie, Paul, SlamDunktheFunk and DDC. Stats courtesy of hockey-reference.com and NHL.com
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Final Grade |
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Final Grade: B+
Midseason Grade: N/A
Position: D (20gp RD, 2gp LD)
Vitals: 6'4" / 232 / Age 22 / Shoots Right
Drafted by St Louis, 1st overall in 2006
Joined Avalanche: Febrauary 19th, 2011 with Jay McClement and 2011 1st round pick from the Blues for Chris Stewart, Kevin Shattenkirk and 2011 2nd round pick
MHH Nicknames: Big Johnson
Linemates:
- Wilson 13gp 3g 6a 9pt -2
- Hunwick 5gp 0g 0a 0pt +2
- Liles 2gp 0g 0a 0pt -1
- O'Byrne 2gp 0g 1a 1pt -4
Avs with Johnson in the lineup: 4-17-1 (.204 pt %) 2.18 GF 3.81 GA
Ice Time (with Avs):
- TTOI 24:33 (1st)
- EV 19:06 (1st)
- PK 2:20 (7th)
- PP 3:06 (2nd)
Career Highlights: Johnson set a new high for ATOI (22:49)
Report: He's kind of a big deal. The Avalanche had been looking for a big defenseman with a big point shot since the departure of Rob Blake. A former 1st overall pick, Johnson possesses a heap of potential...and he just turned 23 years old. While he was protected a little in St Louis, he immediately became the go-to guy in all situations in Colorado and his minutes increased by about 2 minutes per game after the trade. That may have exposed him a little bit. He was credited with 23 giveaways in 55 games with St Louis, and 20 in his 22 games with Colorado. Sure, he's playing with a different caliber of defensive players here...but it's not like that situation is going to change any time soon. Other than the turnovers, Johnson looked solid before a late-season injury gave him a respite from the team's quagmire. Offensively, he's got a cannon for a shot and that 6'4" frame is as refreshing as it is foreign for Avalanche fans. Although he's a righty, he often switches to the left side on offense or defense when the situation dictates. And, although -5 is nothing to write home about, it is better than all but 3 D who played 10+ games (Gaunce, Holos and, believe it or not, Kyle Cumiskey). Considering he was playing against the best lines and playing when the team was playing its worst, that's very encouraging. It's a bit intriguing-bordering-on-worrisome that he ranked just 7th on the team in PK minutes (behind guys like Matt Hunwick and Cumiskey); it may be nothing, but it is something to keep an eye on. It's also interesting to me that he put up great offensive numbers when paired with defensive guys (Wilson and O'Byrne) but was a -6. Meanwhile, he had 0 points but was a +1 in 7 games with offensive-minded Liles and Hunwick. I think that speaks a lot to his versatility. Or small sample size.
Fun Fact: Johnson joins Owen Nolan (9 games) and Pierre Turgeon (79 games) as first overall picks to have played for the Avalanche
The Erik Johnson Drinking Game: Drink if you think #6 in the Avs font looks kind of like a penis Drunk potential: YMMV
2010 Cap Hit: $2,600,000
2011 Status: Signed through end of 2011-2012 season (RFA at expiry, 4 more seasons before UFA)
Outlook for Next Season: Johnson, of course, will go into next season as the cornerstone on defense (if not the franchise). There will be a lot of pressure on him. The team gave up some big assets to obtain him and he's not going to have the supporting cast that he had in St Louis. That's a lot of weight for those young, broad shoulders. How he responds is going to have a big impact on the Avalanche for the next few years.
Next Up: David van der Gulik
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IMHO....
a lot of how we’re going to feel about this trade has to do with how St. louis does. Meaning, will Stewart continue to excel or will he start to soil the bedsheets? Will Shattenkirk continue to improve and get better, or will he go the way of the crapper?
Oh…. and Johnson better not go to any golf tournaments. Let’s use the same kid that cleans Sakic’s driveway to keep him away.
I guess I’m less worried by how St. Louis does than I am about how EJ does, what we get for the draft pick, and whether we find some scoring on the first line. I wish Stewie and Shatty well for all but 6 games in the regular season and any playoff meetings.
"It's all about the $"
by Busted Twigg on May 6, 2011 10:06 AM MDT up reply actions
Sort of on topic, I know there are a ton of people who would like to have LA’s big Johnson in Colorado as well. Read this and tell me if you believe that is an astute wish and not just picking up on the man-crush that has enveloped Kings fans.
If we don't get our sauce, we ain't watching the game!
FWIW, not all Kings fans have a man crush on the guy. Most of my friends get annoyed with his Wolski-esque habit of being brilliant and then being a liability, multiple times in one game even. Thus, I don’t want him anywhere near the Avs unless it’s RoB slamming his body into the boards.
Thank you, Footer. You - and your nose - will never be forgotten.
Avalanche Breakaway: a blog of hockey goodness
by Cheryl Bradley on May 6, 2011 8:52 AM MDT up reply actions 1 recs
I don’t know if there is a bias towards blaming the better players when things go poorly, regardless of actual performance and influence on the outcome,
That never happens around here, nope, not at all.
Thank you, Footer. You - and your nose - will never be forgotten.
Avalanche Breakaway: a blog of hockey goodness
by Cheryl Bradley on May 6, 2011 8:54 AM MDT up reply actions
Everyone is all a-flutter over Tampa Bay with their forward class of Stamkos, Vinny and St. Louis.
But two years ago they finished below the 2008 abysmal Avalanche and those same guys where there. Obviously Roloson has been amazing but Hedman has solidified that backline and allowed that team to showcase their talent up front in a big way. I think the coaching philosophy has also changed that team for the better.
EJ is a vital cog for any successful hockey team. I’m still shocked the Blues gave him and a 1st round pick.
I'll keep this brief.
Stamkos growed up.
"It's all about the $"
by Busted Twigg on May 6, 2011 10:08 AM MDT up reply actions
especially if the avs can pair him with Larsson, I am really liking everything that I read about the guy.
Each of my replies is a work of art, each more brilliant than the last.
by An Unmitigated Disaster on May 6, 2011 10:08 AM MDT up reply actions
I would have given him an A, but he spells his name wrong. It’s E.R.I.C.
Don’t even get me started about Sjhon Podein.
Each of my replies is a work of art, each more brilliant than the last.
by An Unmitigated Disaster on May 6, 2011 10:09 AM MDT reply actions
B-
Too many giveaways, not very physical. Eats ice time, can skate in traffic, but didn’t come close to making the impact that I hope he’ll make in the future.
Being famous and having a fender bender is weird. You want to be upset but the other drivers just thrilled & giddy that it's you. — Dane Cook
by Dan Winkler on May 6, 2011 12:16 PM MDT reply actions
Too many giveaways
That’s my biggest concern with him. I’m hoping it was just an adjustment/confidence thing. We will see.
Thank you, Footer. You - and your nose - will never be forgotten.
Avalanche Breakaway: a blog of hockey goodness
by Cheryl Bradley on May 6, 2011 2:32 PM MDT up reply actions
just what the doctor ordered for a team that had a hard enough time trying to get the puck out of their own end.
Each of my replies is a work of art, each more brilliant than the last.
by An Unmitigated Disaster on May 6, 2011 7:06 PM MDT up reply actions
Wait, what?
The Erik Johnson Drinking Game: Drink if you think #6 in the Avs font looks kind of like a penis Drunk potential: YMMV
Being famous and having a fender bender is weird. You want to be upset but the other drivers just thrilled & giddy that it's you. — Dane Cook
by Dan Winkler on May 6, 2011 12:21 PM MDT reply actions
Your Mileage May Vary
Thank you, Footer. You - and your nose - will never be forgotten.
Avalanche Breakaway: a blog of hockey goodness
by Cheryl Bradley on May 6, 2011 2:31 PM MDT up reply actions
I know what YMMV means. I was just surprised that DDC made a dick joke (even if it was a mild one).
Being famous and having a fender bender is weird. You want to be upset but the other drivers just thrilled & giddy that it's you. — Dane Cook
by Dan Winkler on May 7, 2011 11:15 AM MDT up reply actions
If he doesn’t become an A here pretty soon we’ll continue to reside in the land of suck.
We see a wonderful sun-soaked city nestled at the foot of the Rocky Mountains. Enos sees nickels and dimes.
his progress, assuming the avs don’t pick up Larsson (or even if they do) will determine how the next 2 to 3 year are for the avs (assuming they pick up a goal that has a career GAA under 3 over the summer).
Each of my replies is a work of art, each more brilliant than the last.
by An Unmitigated Disaster on May 6, 2011 7:11 PM MDT up reply actions
B+
A B+ would indicate a pretty darn successful season. How have you even come remotely close to calling anything Johnson did well above average?? He was negative in plus/minus, scored very little and had little impact on any game that he appeared in. Are we using wishful thinking and hopeful prognosis to assess this situation, unrealisticly???? Are we trying to rationalize a terrible trade, or do we just not have a clue(like sherman)?
... were you watching the same EJ I was?
Yes, he was negative in plus/minus…. but so was everyone else on the team. How can one person overcome so much suckage on D and goaltending, especially on a glorified AHL team? During the 22 game period that EJ played, the Avs were -38. Given the amount of TOI he received (24:33 a game), a -5 rating is actually quite impressive.
As for scoring very little – He finished with 10 points (3G and 7A) in 22 games. That’s good for .455 PPG, which is second for defensemen behind Liles’s .605 PPG. Furthermore, since he was used in a primarily shut-down role in St. Louis, he was adjusting to more offensive responsibilities here in Colorado during that time as well. I believe that this was just barely scratching the surface of what we’ll see next season.
And “He had little impact on any game that he appeared in”. Are you serious? Johnson was EASILY one of the best players on the ice almost every night for us. His slapshot created more than one opportunity for the forwards to bang home a rebound – and that’s assuming he didn’t get the goal in the first place. He played 25 minutes+ almost every single game and provided the size and skill on the blueline that we’ve been asking for all year. He put up 1.455 hits per game, as well as 1.864 blocks per game and showed enough leadership off the ice that he was awarded with an “A” despite being so new young and new to the team.
And to top that off, he’s only 23. Defensemen don’t hit their prime until their 4th season in the NHL, and EJ just finished his third. He’s been quoted as saying that he struggled with confidence in St. Louis, but he doesn’t have that problem here at all. And he’s already won a silver medal at the Olympics. If the successful USA team felt comfortable putting him on their roster when they had hundreds of qualified defensemen to choose from, why shouldn’t we?
As to the trade, Shattenkirk and Stewart are replaceable. It already looks like we have 2 Shatty clones coming through the system, and one of them looks to even be an upgrade (Good Elliott). Stewart hurts more because good power forwards are hard to find and we are really hurting for wings, but they are easier to come by than top pairing defensemen. EJ has proven he is worthy of the top job. Yes, he still makes a few mistakes, but those will diminish with time.
I’m sorry you dislike the trade, but please – back up your trolling with some some more concrete stats next time. Your argument was so easy to pick apart I almost feel bad.
Just a Colorado girl in Montana who <3s the Avs.
I do like EJ and I am happy we got him, but I don't agree with everything you said
“As to the trade, Shattenkirk and Stewart are replaceable.”
Really, we don’t even know what Shatty will be because like you said it takes 4 years for D to develop, but if he keeps going and improving he could be one of the better puck moving D in the league in 3 more years. Yep he is easily replaceable
And as for Stewart lets see all he has done is score 28 goals for the last 2 years. With the potential to be a 35 goal scorer year in and year out. Lets see here only 7 guys in the NHL scored more than 34 goals last year, only 29 guys scored 30 or more goals last year and only 37 guys scored as many or more goals than Chris Stewart did last year (none of which played for the Avalanche). Yep those types of players grow on trees no problem replacing him.
“Stewart hurts more because good power forwards are hard to find and we are really hurting for wings, but they are easier to come by than top pairing defensemen”
So assuming each team has only one top pairing defenseman that would mean there are 30 in the NHL. There are only 7 guys in the league that scored 35 goals. Yep top goal scoring forwards (not even just wingers) are so much easier to come by then defense, you proved your point. Oh and we shouldn’t worry because we have a big young stud in the works named Ryan Stoa, he surely can replace Stewart, we are set at that position.
Next time why don’t you stop trolling and come with a decent arguement before you blast others.
Alright. I’ll admit I was in a bitchy mood last night and my comeback might have come across a bit strong. So let’s try this again.
I agree that Shatty and Stewy are good players and they have the potential to be REALLY good players…. but so does EJ and the new draft pick. In fact, I’d say the potential level all around is fairly equal. You may disagree with me, but I really don’t think Sherman made that terrible of a trade. To come in and completely blast it like that was a bit unwarranted in my opinion – I don’t think that Sherman was “clueless” by any means. Yes, Shatty might prove to be irreplaceable one day, but he wasn’t at the time of the trade, especially with Elliott and Barrie (who have similar potential) coming up behind him.
Shattenkirk 2006-07 (Season prior to his draft year)
5’-11, 193 lbs
U.S. National Team Dev. Program & JW18-A
28 GP/6G/27A/33P/1.18 PPG/26 PIM/ +/- not taken
Elliott 2010-11
6’-1, 191 lbs (3 inches taller than Shattenkirk with the potential to add more mass)
WHL
71 GP/31G/50A/81p/1.14 PPG/14 PIM/+62
Barrie 2010-11
5’-10, 190 lbs
WHL
54 GP/11G/47A/58P/1.07 PPG/34/+5
I don’t know if there is a huge difference between the competition of the US Dev. Program and the WHL, but if not, those numbers (and from what I understand, their style of play) look fairly comparable. Yes, we might be kicking ourselves in a few years, but it’s way too early to say that Shattenkirk is the next Norris Trophy winner and that the Avs were SUXXORS for trading him. I’m not saying that’s what you’re implying, but at this point in his development, he just simply isn’t irreplaceable. He might be in a few years, but right now, Elliott and Barrie (and probably a few other young players) have just about as much potential as he does, even though he’s just a bit more NHL proven than they are. Plus, we don’t even know who we traded Shatty for yet. The general consensus at least around here is that we traded him for the 1st rounder…. a kid who hasn’t even donned an NHL jersey yet. I miss Shatty and I think he’s going to be one heck of a hockey player, but I understand why we let him go and think that he can be replaced within a couple years.
Stewart is a bit more of a loss since we don’t have anyone "within" that can fill his role. But we do have the #2 overall pick, and Landeskog and Courtier have the potential to take his spot. And even if they don’t work out or we draft someone else, we may have an All-Star and a near-top-of-the-league PMD available to be traded within the next 12 months (depending on how Radar and the prospie d-men do). There aren’t many top wingers in the NHL, but they do exist and we could probably get one if we offered up Stastny or Liles. Stewart won’t be easy to replace, but it is doable. Yes, Stewy may prove to be a 35 goal-a-season scorer, but if our defense had continued to look the way it had, it wouldn’t have mattered. We still would have found ourselves losing games. Offense comes and goes (that’s just how hockey is) and if you are a completely offensive team, when the scoring drys up, all you’re left with is an empty Tank. If you need proof, just look at this past season. We can’t rely on just offense to get the job done. Sherman understood that and went out and found a player that not only brings size and skill to our blueline, but also has the potential to be a leader (he wore the A in St. Louis) and cornerstone for this team for a decade to come. But since you can’t get talent without giving up talent, he felt that sacrificing Stewy was an acceptable trade. Losing Stewy hurts, but as the good folks at MHH are constantly saying – you can’t build a franchise around a wing. The Caps might be able to pull it off, but I don’t care how high on Stewy you are – he’s not Ovechkin. Stewy is replaceable. Not easily replaceable, but it’s possible with the right pieces or drafting. And we simply needed EJ more than Stewart. We had other forwards that could score, but we didn’t have anyone in the organization that could play a really solid 2-way game on our blueline. That’s why the trade was made, and EJ has the potential to impact this team as much, if not more, than Stewart would have because of how he plays his specific position.
Just a Colorado girl in Montana who <3s the Avs.
I agree that Stewart and Shattenkirk are replaceable. I know Shattenkirk was very good offensively, but he was a defensive liability and they already have enough puck moving defensemen and prospects. Stewart is a great power forward, but the Avs already have enough offense to be successful. The defense was the problem. Johnson is physical, he can put up points himself and he brings leadership that they didn’t get from Shattenkirk or Stewart. They also got the 11th overall pick (which is a higher position than either player they traded away was taken at) and already have the 2nd overall pick on the which should easily be enough to replace the two of them. It was a good trade for the Avs and a good one for the Blues as well.
Daigle??
Hey sherman I understand Alexandre Daigle is available! He was a number one draftpick once. Shouldn’t we mortgage the rest of our future for someone who was thought to have potential?? O’Byrne, Hunwick, Johnson, what the fuck are you running, a hockey team or a lonely fucking hearts club??
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