New Jersey Devils Free Agency Profile: Jack Johnson
By Nick Villano
The New Jersey Devils are officially in offseason mode. Over the next few days, we will look at 20 potential free agents they could look at signing. Today, we look at the Columbus Blue Jackets Jack Johnson.
The New Jersey Devils need some defensive help in the offseason. Obviously, there are some really big fish that could be available in free agency or trade in John Carlson, Erik Karlsson and Oliver Ekman-Larsson, but those will have every other team going after them. If the Devils miss out on them, they would need to look at some secondary options.
One of those options is a player that never really lived up to his expectations. Jack Johnson was supposed to be the next great American defenseman. He never really reached that ceiling, but he was always a good player. Since he was traded for Jeff Carter from the Los Angeles Kings to the Columbus Blue Jackets, he was a pillar for the Blue Jackets franchise.
However, his numbers have plummeted in recent seasons. Whether that’s the pressure of playing for John Tortorella or just losing a step with age, one must worry that he may already be on the decline at 31 years old. His stats in Corsi For% (47.7) and Fenwick For% (48.8) went down this season.
However, to play Devil’s advocate, Johnson was clearly not happy with his role this season. It went so far that he asked to be traded in the middle of the season despite being entrenched in a playoff spot. If he can find a situation that he enjoyed, he could excel.
Johnson could easily fit in a middle pairing for the Devils right now. He would make sense with a Damon Severson in order to balance out their flaws. Johnson’s offensive game fell off the map, forcing Columbus to start him in the defensive zone 55 percent of the time. Severson’s offensive game is above average, and Johnson could make up for some mistakes.
The main issue here is price. Carlson is going to set the market very, very high. He could command as much as $8 million per season, which is slightly insane. Once he’s signed, expect Johnson and Calvin De Haan to follow suit. They are the second tier of defensemen, and will use Carlson’s contract to make some serious dough.
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That’s where the problems come. Johnson is coming off a season where he made $5 million. I don’t see him taking a pay cut if he doesn’t have to. A team would be willing to at least match that salary on a three-year deal. Can the Devils really take a chance on a defenseman who’s past his prime that will make that much money? The team is already paying Andy Greene $5 million per season, and that contract doesn’t end until 2020. The Devils would be in an interesting position paying Greene and Johnson $10 million per season.
Still, the Devils should inquire about Johnson. His numbers aren’t great, but he would definitely be an upgrade without having to lose assets. He’s still worth a spot on most teams, and he could provide some leadership for younger defensemen.
If the Devils signed Johnson, it wouldn’t make fans too excited, but he could be the player they need if everything else falls through. He will make too much money, but as long as the Devils steer clear of the salary cap it won’t matter. Johnson isn’t the best option, but he’s still a decent option if all else fails.