ERIK JOHNSON - Defenseman - 31 - $6.00MM Cap Hit - UFA in 2023-2024
LAST UPDATED 7/28/19
A former first overall pick, Erik Johnson has had a solid if somewhat underwhelming (given his draft status) NHL career. Johnson has great size and strength for a defenseman, and he's not one to shy away from throwing the body around to win battles for pucks. That being said, Johnson's aggressive physical playstyle has meant that he struggles to stay healthy, and can only inconsistently manage a full 80+ game season. Johnson's offensive game is also uneven, as he lacks the high-end puck skills and skating ability to produce points. He has a good point shot, but is not a fit on a power play and should not be getting the 5v4 minutes he currently does. His defensive positioning could also stand to improve, as he needs to learn to rely more on his brain than his brawn, and his lack of speed relative to the rest of the NHL causes him to sometimes get flat out beaten on the rush by the league's speediest forwards. That all being said, he has value as a veteran leader of a defense and as an intimidating force for opposing forwards. If you need someone to absolutely bully an undersized offensive dynamo on the other team, Johnson can very capably do that. Just expecting him to be the do-it-all #1 defenseman he was drafted to be would be a mistake. Johnson is a strong #5 defenseman. His contract is also an issue.
A former first overall pick, Erik Johnson has had a solid if somewhat underwhelming (given his draft status) NHL career. Johnson has great size and strength for a defenseman, and he's not one to shy away from throwing the body around to win battles for pucks. That being said, Johnson's aggressive physical playstyle has meant that he struggles to stay healthy, and can only inconsistently manage a full 80+ game season. Johnson's offensive game is also uneven, as he lacks the high-end puck skills and skating ability to produce points. He has a good point shot, but is not a fit on a power play and should not be getting the 5v4 minutes he currently does. His defensive positioning could also stand to improve, as he needs to learn to rely more on his brain than his brawn, and his lack of speed relative to the rest of the NHL causes him to sometimes get flat out beaten on the rush by the league's speediest forwards. That all being said, he has value as a veteran leader of a defense and as an intimidating force for opposing forwards. If you need someone to absolutely bully an undersized offensive dynamo on the other team, Johnson can very capably do that. Just expecting him to be the do-it-all #1 defenseman he was drafted to be would be a mistake. Johnson is a strong #5 defenseman. His contract is also an issue.
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