Can I blame this all on Johnson whom I've disliked now for years in his profession, not as a person?
IMO Johnson has not done a good job either here or in Utica. Some think differently but I see a lot of evidence to the contrary.
1) Under him our farm teams have had little success . Crept in to the playoffs at times (in a league that hands out playoff spots like a politican hands out leaflets) but then go nowhere.
2) Very few players seem to develop on our farm team under his leadership. Talks a good game but where are the results. How many players have graduated from his teams to become contributors to the Canuck team?
3) Doesn't communicate with his supposed fan base. This was constantly brought up by Utica posters and his communication here seems rare and ineffective. Just a bunch of cliches.
4) Team should have better attendence.
5) Has not brought in good vets to support the kids. Someone goes down and we get a real awful replacement from the ECHL and the players he signs in off-season do nothing to help the team. An endless line of Joyeaus, Daschkes, Passolts, Berzolla etc,etc... None of them do anything suggesting a poor eye for talent.
6) Has, and especially last year, done nothing to provide some protection for the younger players. Team was decimated last year. McWard, HIrose, Poskolzin, Klimovich, Brisebois, Sasson, Wolanin, MacDonough, Woo...(in other words most of our prime prospects at the tiem) In many cases these injuries resulted from deliberate attempts to injured and in most every case there was little to no response from the Abbotsford team.
7) In some cases, he kept around players he liked when they were of little use. Stevens is the best example. Getting key vets to help the team and protect teammates should have been a priority but IMO Johnson put personal friendship ahead of the team needs and in the process is hurting the development of our prospects
8) Johnson has no track record. Got the job through patronage and his links to Linden. We have nothing to indicate some level of competence in Johnson's past and little at present to indicate he is competent.
I like to see a person brought in who has a history in the AHL of successful management and talent evaluation. I think the way our farm team is beinging handle is far from good.