Mike Richards III (Cleared waivers 1/27/15)

[santiclaws]

Plus minus is useless in validating a career. I'd take Jack Johnson back and he's a -116. That doesn't mean he's a terrible defenseman.

+/- is a useless stat if looked at in a vacuum. It is not useless if you look at it in comparison to other players on the same team, especially over a number of years. Go ahead, look it up. JJ had the worst +/- on the Kings year and and year out - and by a country mile most years. Several of those years were when he was the only defenseman with a minus stat, possibly the only player with a minus stat on the entire team a couple of years if I recall correctly. One year is a coincidence. Two years, unlikely but possible. Every year?? There's a reason, and that reason is not coincidence. And that's just the stat.

Just looking at his game, he was constantly out of position and making terrible decisions with the puck, and that's still the case. So yes, he is absolutely a terrible defenseman and will have the worst career +/- by far since the stat has been kept by the NHL.

 

[kingsfan]

+/- is a useless stat if looked at in a vacuum. It is not useless if you look at it in comparison to other players on the same team, especially over a number of years. Go ahead, look it up. JJ had the worst +/- on the Kings year and and year out - and by a country mile most years. Several of those years were when he was the only defenseman with a minus stat, possibly the only player with a minus stat on the entire team a couple of years if I recall correctly. One year is a coincidence. Two years, unlikely but possible. Every year?? There's a reason, and that reason is not coincidence. And that's just the stat.

Just looking at his game, he was constantly out of position and making terrible decisions with the puck, and that's still the case. So yes, he is absolutely a terrible defenseman and will have the worst career +/- by far since the stat has been kept by the NHL.

Jack Johnson will never be a top pairing defenseman but he is a legit #4 in any top six. He certainly wasn't as bad as you make him out to be during his time in LA.

 

[ADifferentTim]

Happy Birthday, Mike!

 

[kingsholygrail]

The guy only bothered to score when it mattered or when it was late in a period.

 

[Reclamation Project]

Happy Birthday Richie.

 

[santiclaws]

He certainly wasn't as bad as you make him out to be during his time in LA.

Really? Let's go to the map, shall we:

07-08: -19, tied for second worst on the team, but he's a rookie and everyone's +/- is awful, Derek Armstrong is tops on the team at +4 (yikes!)

08-09: -18, worst on the team in only 41 games. Doughty/Kopitar tied for second worst at -17, but in 81/82 games respectively.

09-10: -15, worst on the team, next worst is Oscar Moeller at -6. Next worst defenseman is Martinez at -4. Randy Jones is at -3 in 48 games. Doughty is +20.

10-11: -21, worst on the team. Brad Richardson is second worst at -13. Only two other defensemen are a minus, and the worst is Muzzin at -2.

11-12: -12, worst on the team, in 61 games. The next worst is Scuderi at -7 in 82 games. He actually puts up a +5 with Columbus to end the season at -7.

He's much better in Columbus, right?

12-13: -5 in 44 games, tied for second worst on the team. The illustrious Dalton Prout (D) is +15, Fyodor Tyutin (D) +9.

13-14: -7, tied for worst on the team.

14-15: -17, second worst on the team.

In every season he's played in the NHL, he's had either the worst or the second worst plus/minus on his team, unless you count those 21 games in Columbus. I think we have a different definition of "not that bad."

 

[kingsfan]

Really? Let's go to the map, shall we:

07-08: -19, tied for second worst on the team, but he's a rookie and everyone's +/- is awful, Derek Armstrong is tops on the team at +4 (yikes!)

08-09: -18, worst on the team in only 41 games. Doughty/Kopitar tied for second worst at -17, but in 81/82 games respectively.

09-10: -15, worst on the team, next worst is Oscar Moeller at -6. Next worst defenseman is Martinez at -4. Randy Jones is at -3 in 48 games. Doughty is +20.

10-11: -21, worst on the team. Brad Richardson is second worst at -13. Only two other defensemen are a minus, and the worst is Muzzin at -2.

11-12: -12, worst on the team, in 61 games. The next worst is Scuderi at -7 in 82 games. He actually puts up a +5 with Columbus to end the season at -7.

He's much better in Columbus, right?

12-13: -5 in 44 games, tied for second worst on the team. The illustrious Dalton Prout (D) is +15, Fyodor Tyutin (D) +9.

13-14: -7, tied for worst on the team.

14-15: -17, second worst on the team.

In every season he's played in the NHL, he's had either the worst or the second worst plus/minus on his team, unless you count those 21 games in Columbus. I think we have a different definition of "not that bad."

This is all assuming that +/- is better than the eye test which it isn't. Johnson did not look as bad as that +/- indicates. If you want to base an assumption on a players career due to his +/- which is only 20% in his control since there are four other players out there (actually less than 20% if you factor in the possibility for a bad goaltender) then go ahead, knock yourself out. I'd take Johnson back on this team over 2/3rds of the names I've seen bounced around as possible targets.

 

[santiclaws]

This is all assuming that +/- is better than the eye test which it isn't.

I think you need to have your eyes checked. The guy is constantly out of position and constantly makes bad reads.

If you want to base an assumption on a players career due to his +/- which is only 20% in his control since there are four other players out there (actually less than 20% if you factor in the possibility for a bad goaltender) then go ahead, knock yourself out.

So, your explanation is that he's incredibly unlucky year after year? The other players on his team are not getting minuses because of the play of their teammates or bad goaltending?

 

[kingsfan]

I think you need to have your eyes checked. The guy is constantly out of position and constantly makes bad reads.

So, your explanation is that he's incredibly unlucky year after year? The other players on his team are not getting minuses because of the play of their teammates or bad goaltending?

I'm explaining that when I watch him he's not a terrible defenseman in my eyes. I'm not saying he's Ray Bourque out there, I'm saying I don't mind him and I didn't mind him in LA. There is a fair number of posters around here I've seen comment to the same effect since JMFJ left. He's decent, not terrible. I doubt I'm alone in my opinion.

I'm also saying I have no clue why you are getting so bent about my opinion. You don't agree with me and have a different opinion, that's fine and it's cool, move along.

 

[lordjedediah]

This is all assuming that +/- is better than the eye test which it isn't. Johnson did not look as bad as that +/- indicates. If you want to base an assumption on a players career due to his +/- which is only 20% in his control since there are four other players out there (actually less than 20% if you factor in the possibility for a bad goaltender) then go ahead, knock yourself out. I'd take Johnson back on this team over 2/3rds of the names I've seen bounced around as possible targets.

Based on 5v5

07-08 40.8 Cf%, 6th out of 7. 39.8 FF% 6th out of 7

08-09 43.9 Cf% 9th out of 9. 43.2 FF% 9th out of 9

09-10 49.9 Cf% 8th out of 9 48.6 FF% 9th out of 9

10-11 48.7 Cf% 8th out of 9 48.4 FF% 8th out of 9

11-12 47.7 Cf% 4th on CBJ, Last on the Kings. 47.4 FF% 4th on CBJ, Last on the Kings

12-13 45.2 Cf% 7th out of 8 43.5% FF% 8th out of 8

13-14 47.9 Cf% 6th out of 9 47.5 FF% 6th out of 9

14-15 44.4 Cf%, 10 out of 10 44,5 FF% 10th out of 10.


This is assuming you value possession stats over the eye test.

 

[kingsfan]

What is Cf% and FF%

 

[Primakov!]

What is Cf% and FF%

I would assume it's probably Corsi and Fenwick.

 

[Jeff18]

Cf% = corsi for percent
FF% = Fenwick for percent (corsi - blocked shots)

Johnson is a terrific offensive defenseman. He thinks attack all the time but was good at it. I also think he was decent in LA and I kinda liked the way he played.

 

[onlyalad]

When JJ was in LA, I accepted his +/- and the hole on his stick at the point because he gave his all. I never had to question his heart or his work ethic. He was traded because Slava made him expendable and you have to give something to get something. If he was in the team again, I would support him again. I would also swear every time he gave up a goal becuase he was in the wrong place. But his heart be there.

 

[saintsnsoldiers]

Heres why I like JJ, is Vegas for Forzen Fury, my sixteen year old asked JJ if he would sign his jersey Jack MF Johnson. Jack looks to me and i give him the head nod, he grins the Jack MF Johnson grin and signs away, priceless, my 16 year old son was thrilled. Plus he took time to talk to my 70 year old mom. Wish him nothing but the best and would love him back on the Kings.

 

[KINGS17]

I think Jack Johnson may have missed his calling. He would probably be a great power forward.

 

[Reclamation Project]

He's built like a truck. JMFJ is absolutely jacked.

 

[Captain Mittens*]

I think Jack Johnson may have missed his calling. He would probably be a great power forward.

Good call.

Kinda like how Jimmy Carter should have been Secretary of State instead of President

 

[MOGlLNY]

Miss ya Richie. </3

 

[AlphaBravo]

i think you need to have your eyes checked. The guy is constantly out of position and constantly makes bad reads.

So, your explanation is that he's incredibly unlucky year after year? The other players on his team are not getting minuses because of the play of their teammates or bad goaltending?

lamo!

 

[Reclamation Project]

Alamo!

 

[417th]

I think Jack Johnson may have missed his calling. He would probably be a great power forward.

I think that would have been a great idea. Maybe a Buff like Dman who plays forward from time to time. JJ is one of those guys who would be interesting to see do both. Better than when Brian Boyle tried it.

 

[KINGS17]

I think that would have been a great idea. Maybe a Buff like Dman who plays forward from time to time. JJ is one of those guys who would be interesting to see do both. Better than when Brian Boyle tried it.

Honestly, I would take Johnson back on the Kings if we could move him to LW as a project. We saw plenty of times that he has decent hands around the net, and has a good shot. He has the size, and I can't imagine that he couldn't learn how to cycle the puck properly.

 

[417th]

Honestly, I would take Johnson back on the Kings if we could move him to LW as a project. We saw plenty of times that he has decent hands around the net, and has a good shot. He has the size, and I can't imagine that he couldn't learn how to cycle the puck properly.

True.

Heck, it would also likely help his D game by being back with us and playing up front ala buff or that turd Burns. Play him on D on the PP. Why not, the guy has golden hands.

 

[The Tikkanen]

This is all assuming that +/- is better than the eye test which it isn't. Johnson did not look as bad as that +/- indicates. If you want to base an assumption on a players career due to his +/- which is only 20% in his control since there are four other players out there (actually less than 20% if you factor in the possibility for a bad goaltender) then go ahead, knock yourself out. I'd take Johnson back on this team over 2/3rds of the names I've seen bounced around as possible targets.

The eye test? Are you a scout?