KelVarnsen
Registered User
But but but Zegras is dying to be a Ranger!!!! But but but the Ducks traded his best friend and he wants out!!! But but but…….
It would be really easy for somebody like Vatrano to give a non-answer to this, so it's cool to see him be so vocal.
I would argue that the fewer cheap shots against the Ducks were more due to the presence of Gudas than Johnston. Agree that the team needs more physical players, but guys that are bad at hockey aren't the answer. Having an "enforcer" that is so bad he is barely playable, just starts some random fights here and there doesn't move the needle for me. Hopefully guys like Gaucher and Warren become Ducks soon and fill this need.Again nobody has named a player on the current roster that's more physical than Johnston. And the amount of cheap shots/abuse the team has taken since he's been on the roster has drastically been cut down. Is anyone actually willing to dent that? This team needs more players willing to throw big hits and drop the gloves in addition to having an enforcer. Yes there are better than Johnston but which one is currently available?
It was a combination of Johnston, Carrick and Gudas. Now one is gone with no replacement and you are left with an aging and injury prone undersized Gudas (who's not a fighter) Without Johnston in the lineup which most of you want you are left with Gudas only do you actually want that?I would argue that the fewer cheap shots against the Ducks were more due to the presence of Gudas than Johnston. Agree that the team needs more physical players, but guys that are bad at hockey aren't the answer. Having an "enforcer" that is so bad he is barely playable, just starts some random fights here and there doesn't move the needle for me. Hopefully guys like Gaucher and Warren become Ducks soon and fill this need.
No, but here’s where we differ. I don’t think Johnston’s fights really deter much. I also don’t want to ice a stiff just because he fights. Management likes Johnston so I think you’ll be getting what you want.It was a combination of Johnston, Carrick and Gudas. Now one is gone with no replacement and you are left with an aging and injury prone undersized Gudas (who's not a fighter) Without Johnston in the lineup which most of you want you are left with Gudas only do you actually want that?
+1000Again nobody has named a player on the current roster that's more physical than Johnston. And the amount of cheap shots/abuse the team has taken since he's been on the roster has drastically been cut down. Is anyone actually willing to dent that? This team needs more players willing to throw big hits and drop the gloves in addition to having an enforcer. Yes there are better than Johnston but which one is currently available?
Johnston doesn’t enforce. He comes over to scrums where liberties are being taken, then hugs people and tells them to stop. He’s not the guy who steps up after the cheap shots and takes a piece of the guy who did it though. Carrick and Strome were the guys stepping up that way last year.Again nobody has named a player on the current roster that's more physical than Johnston. And the amount of cheap shots/abuse the team has taken since he's been on the roster has drastically been cut down. Is anyone actually willing to dent that? This team needs more players willing to throw big hits and drop the gloves in addition to having an enforcer. Yes there are better than Johnston but which one is currently available?
He objectively doesn’t have to do his “ job often”Johnston doesn’t enforce. He comes over to scrums where liberties are being taken, then hugs people and tells them to stop. He’s not the guy who steps up after the cheap shots and takes a piece of the guy who did it though. Carrick and Strome were the guys stepping up that way last year.
He’s objectively bad at his job.
Ducks Net Rating | 2024 | ||
---|---|---|---|
Defenseman | Offense | Defense | Net Rating |
Gudas | 1 | 5 | 6 |
Vaak | -4 | 1 | -3 |
LaCombe | -5 | -1 | -6 |
Minty | 1 | -7 | -6 |
Fowler | -3 | -5 | -8 |
I think we still get pretty routine cheap shots. And I think Carrick and Strome and Gudas were the ones who exacted revenge for them. I think Johnston does deescalate things when he’s on the ice, but I don’t think he provides any actual deterrent factor otherwise.He objectively doesn’t have to do his “ job often”
Because we don’t get cheap shot anymore, exactly because he’s on the team to begin with.
Max Jones was did occasionally hit players. But he never fought or stuck up for teammates. I put him closer to the agitator category. His body language was also poor - any time there was a confrontation he'd meekly skate away with his head down.I kinda expected more physicality and fighting from Johnston. I get he gets credits for a lot of hits, but his hits pales when comparing to the way Max Jones hits. Johnston's size is the intimidating factor, but that's really more bark than bite. Maybe I'm spoiled with Des as our enforcer and that's the standard I have for future enforcers.
Because Johnston was there, Gudas was able to play his physical brand of hockey knowing that he wasn't going to fight heavyweights or being expected to enforce. Gudas is too valuable a player to do that. W/o Johnston, Gudas is fighting more and against bigger guys.I would argue that the fewer cheap shots against the Ducks were more due to the presence of Gudas than Johnston. Agree that the team needs more physical players, but guys that are bad at hockey aren't the answer. Having an "enforcer" that is so bad he is barely playable, just starts some random fights here and there doesn't move the needle for me. Hopefully guys like Gaucher and Warren become Ducks soon and fill this need.
I think we still get pretty routine cheap shots. And I think Carrick and Strome and Gudas were the ones who exacted revenge for them. I think Johnston does deescalate things when he’s on the ice, but I don’t think he provides any actual deterrent factor otherwise.
His hits are also pretty pointless, he rarely actually punished anyone past the first month of the season.
Max Jones was did occasionally hit players. But he never fought or stuck up for teammates. I put him closer to the agitator category. His body language was also poor - any time there was a confrontation he'd meekly skate away with his head down.
Johnston is what he is. There are very few players who can do what he does and play a productive game in other aspects - Manson in his prime was the last guy on the ducks who filled that role and even he eventually fought less. Even Des (who I and others here thought was underrated as a player) probably doesn't fit that "both aspects" bill. Hockey analytics hate Des for some reason even though I thought he was decent on the ducks.
Duck | Enforcers | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Player | Year | GP | G | A | Pts | +/- | ATOI | CF% |
Des | 2019-20 | 59 | 7 | 6 | 13 | -1 | 9:47 | 44.0 |
Des | 2020-21 (56-game Covid Season) | 49 | 5 | 5 | 10 | -7 | 11:19 | 44.6 |
Des | 2021-22 | 61 | 5 | 5 | 10 | -9 | 11:38 | 41.0 |
Johnston | 2023-24 | 68 | 1 | 3 | 4 | -12 | 8:12 | 41.6 |
Best #6 is probably Drysdale, right? Followed by Lovejoy and then maybe Sean Hill. Not exactly a distinguished number.Drysdumoulin
What are you talking about? Jones isn't the enforcer. We all know that and no one is saying that is Jones' role. The enforcer is Johnston, but we aren't seeing the enforcer hit nor fight like our previous enforcer in Des. Jones was used as an example of how Johnston should be delivering hits, especially in the limited minutes he's given. Love tapping and love hugging are traits that I attribute to our dedicated enforcer. Laying out heavier hits can wear down the opponent over time or cause that opponent to re-think how to play around said enforcer.
Wow. You really are underselling Des here compared to Johnston.
Duck Enforcers Player Year GP G A Pts +/- ATOI CF% Des 2019-20 59 7 6 13 -1 9:47 44.0Des 2020-21 (56-game Covid Season) 49 5 5 10 -7 11:19 44.6Des 2021-22 61 5 5 10 -9 11:38 41.0Johnston 2023-24 68 1 3 4 -12 8:12 41.6
The huge kicker here is that Des developed his game so that he can also play on the PK, which was how his ATOI increased. I think the only "hockey analytics" that hated Des so much were the Anaheim Calling (now Crash the Pond) guys and it looks like you're carrying their banner into today without actually looking up the analytics for comparison.
Manson fought less because GM Murray traded for Des. Murray wanted Manson on the ice more than in the sin bin and Des took on the role of fighting as well as the 5 minutes off the ice.
One thing to note is opposing players are willing to fight Carrick and Strome. They won’t fight Johnston, so he would have to take an instigator penalty and then everyone would be mad at him for taking an extra penalty.Johnston doesn’t enforce. He comes over to scrums where liberties are being taken, then hugs people and tells them to stop. He’s not the guy who steps up after the cheap shots and takes a piece of the guy who did it though. Carrick and Strome were the guys stepping up that way last year.
He’s objectively bad at his job.
There might be some kernel of truth to this but not sure you can really make this argument with much confidence.One thing to note is opposing players are willing to fight Carrick and Strome. They won’t fight Johnston, so he would have to take an instigator penalty and then everyone would be mad at him for taking an extra penalty.
One thing to note is opposing players are willing to fight Carrick and Strome. They won’t fight Johnston, so he would have to take an instigator penalty and then everyone would be mad at him for taking an extra penalty.
There might be some kernel of truth to this but not sure you can really make this argument with much confidence.
Ross' ATOI was 8 minutes. In contrast Carrick was at 12 and Strome almost 16.
People probably fight those two more often because they're actually on the ice, and they're actually on the ice because they contribute something of value.