Yet Another Plugger

levelheaded · Post by **levelheaded** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 7:56 pm

Canucks have apparently signed Ryan Johnson from STL.

2 years $1.2M per.

Fantastic /sarcasm

http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?post_id=15977

RC51 · Post by **RC51** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 8:11 pm

Who?

Well, you do need ALL pieces of a puzzle to be successful. But, c'mon, we have a bunch of tenatious, checkers already. Wonder what that means for Burrows. Pettinger? Rypien (well, we know he's an UFA an no offer from the Nucks)? Even Kesler (although I think he's more than a 4th liner).

mattola · Post by **mattola** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 8:40 pm

are you expecting the canucks to sign EVERY big name UFA available.

some pluggers are needed for the right fit maybe hes better than the last bunch. who knows.

but man give it a rest for judgement. its not like we are filling the very last spot with a plugger when the greatest players are available.

RC51 · Post by **RC51** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 8:55 pm

mattola wrote:are you expecting the canucks to sign EVERY big name UFA available.

some pluggers are needed for the right fit maybe hes better than the last bunch. who knows.

True enough - hence my 'pieces of the puzzle' comment. Look at Detroit - all the players there have a role and fill them well. But we do have a lot of 'pluggers'. I think it means that there will be movement/demotion for the existing cast of pluggers.

levelheaded · Post by **levelheaded** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 8:57 pm

mattola wrote:are you expecting the canucks to sign EVERY big name UFA available.

some pluggers are needed for the right fit maybe hes better than the last bunch. who knows.

but man give it a rest for judgement. its not like we are filling the very last spot with a plugger when the greatest players are available.

I know I'm being a debbie downer today, but isn't this exactly what Nonis did and everyone bitched about it? Chased the big names, got laughed at and signed a bunch of 3rd/4th liners to inflated contracts (can you seriously tell me that Johnson is worth $1.2M?).

I realize that depth players are just as important as front line players in many ways, but you need the superstars first. I'll be a lot happier when we have a decent 2nd line in place.

mattola · Post by **mattola** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 9:06 pm

im not super pumped either but there are still some quality players available and some days left. we will see.

Linden Is God · Post by **Linden Is God** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 10:17 pm

You know signing the player in question doesn't bother me at all. What bothers me is how will Gillis rid of the other crap that's already on the team?

Grizzly · Post by **Grizzly** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 10:26 pm

mattola wrote:are you expecting the canucks to sign EVERY big name UFA available.

some pluggers are needed for the right fit maybe hes better than the last bunch. who knows.

but man give it a rest for judgement. its not like we are filling the very last spot with a plugger when the greatest players are available.

No ... but one would be nice ... I guess the feelings are we already have alot of pluggers... as well...

... it is exciting for the fans when we sign a big name ... it brings hope to us for a team that didn't make the playoffs again last year and in all honesty looks like is going back into yet another re-building process.

Grizz

mattola · Post by **mattola** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 10:51 pm

Linden Is God wrote:You know signing the player in question doesn't bother me at all. What bothers me is how will Gillis rid of the other crap that's already on the team?

crap such as Isbister and Ritchie. but they are UFA and not coming back.

wait till its all said and done before you condemn a man for his job. Ill join you if it keeps going this way. but for now. dont be like the CDC members and pre judge.

its not over.

Soapy · Post by **Soapy** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 11:05 pm

i heard this guy is a top notch penalty killer? a big time shot blocker....I don't know much about him at all....
MG seems to be in love with St Louis

jchockey · Post by **jchockey** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 11:14 pm

Hey, I mentioned this guy awhile ago... now if I can only find the thread...

In any case, Johnson is one of the league's most underrated PKers. The only problem is, we have too many of those already.

MarkMM · Post by **MarkMM** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 11:34 pm

Quality over quantity, Hordichuk is an improvement over Cowan, and Johnson is an improvement over Rypien or Isbister. Worth $1.2 million, I don't know, but not a hugely bad deal, good in the faceoffs, an aggressive fore-checker, who is in the league-elite for shot-blocking and penalty-killing, which will be key with the PP pairings we'll be seeing this year.

I, too, am waiting for some top-six movement, but it is early, and so far, so good for GMMG's moves.

trevor corey · Post by **trevor corey** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 3:59 am

The Bakes offer sheet was just a ploy to get Ryan Johnson.

Jovorock · Post by **Jovorock** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 4:47 am

Linden Is God wrote:You know signing the player in question doesn't bother me at all. What bothers me is how will Gillis rid of the other crap that's already on the team?

Maybe there is a reason Gillis isgetting rid of these two guys? Maybe he sees more in Johnson than the guys he is replacing.

http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app?service=page ... Id=8460527

6'1" center 18pts 79 games -2 , not bad for a guy on a shitty team?

mattola · Post by **mattola** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 8:30 am

The Vancouver Canucks have signed defensive specialist Ryan Johnson from the St. Louis Blues.

Johnson, 32, has agreed to a two-year contract for approximately $2.3 million US, writes the Vancouver Province.

The centre led the league in blocked shots with 105, adding 18 points in 79 game

according to this it would seem to me that Gillis is working off some sort of plan and not just signing guys like this all willy nilly.

105 blocked shots is more than a plugger to me.