A lot has been made of Jack Johnson’s plus-minus rating, and after years of covering hockey, I still don’t know exactly what to make of that statistic, but that’s a debate for another time. Whatever you make of it, if you put any value on it at all, it’s probably worth noting that Johnson is plus-2 in his last six games, and also has one goal and one assist in his last four games after a long stretch without much offensive contribution.
Terry Murray’s concern, though, is more about Johnson’s defensive side, and today Murray had a very positive response when asked if Johnson appeared to be increasingly comfortable on the ice of late…
MURRAY: “I think the comfort level has really expanded in his play, in his D-zone, inside of his own blue line. You go through the road trip, five games, and he played in four of them. Everything was very positive in his play. There was a noticeable absence in the game that he did not play. His focus, from the start of the year, at our request and his own positive reinforcement in meetings that we had, was to continue to get the focus to get better in that area. On the other side, we’ll be there for him. So I’m seeing a much more confident player on that side of the game. That’s really a good thing. Once you get that foundation in your reads on a consistent basis, your game will really start to go to the next level.”
well we know this much now for sure kovalchuk is finished in atlanta their GM told him that to expect a trade within hours or days according to tsn. should be interesting
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I’ll be the first to say it looks like JJ has responded to being called out for his defensive woes. It appears as though he’s actually putting an effort into being in position, etc., in the last few games, and (surprise, surprise) it’s showing up on the stat sheet.
As I’ve said before, it’s not that the plus/minus is such a great stat, but when someone is obviously dragging (and in particular, on defense) it can be used as confirmation. Now, it can be used as confirmation that he’s (finally, apparently) picking up his game.
I’m as happy as anyone to see it. I’m guessing it took a few days, but he’s finally responding in the way DL apparently wanted him to respond to his comments, even if they sounded a bit harsh (and I don’t mean to rehash that, but the call to put in more effort to improve was there.)
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JMFJ took a brutal hit yesterday and popped right back up. Say what you want about his defensive skills, JMFJ is a tough SOB.
Also, I love watching him rear up for his slapshot. He and Doughty on the blueline during a power play is a thing of beauty.
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Looks like I’m going to have to change my name.
This thread isn’t about kovalchuck. Why bring it up.
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does anyone else think Johnson looks like John Heder (napoleon dynamite)?
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Mark-
It’s not that. The Kovi discussion started two threads ago. Don’t take it personally.
I propose a no Kovi-talk clause for the rest of the day!
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yea, no doubt you can see it. JJ’s an offensive-minded defenseman, which is why I’m not so crazy about him and Jones, who tends to get caught a bit also, out there together. But I certainly do also understand not breaking up Odie and Greener so as to have two pairs of shut-down D-men, along with Drew & Skuds…
I think JJ definitely needs to be free to do his thing and we need to adjust to allowing that to get the best at both ends out of him. IMHO if we try to contain him and force him to play another way, I can easily see years of frustration on both sides…
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Jammers
JJ has a great shot; a shotgun from the point. And by shotgun I mean it’s hard as hell, but scattered all over the place. Let’s aim at that 6×4 net, there, Jacky.
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Az- I meant leave it there
On another note JJ has played a lot better.
His decisions are quick and decisive.
Going to change my name to infidelity for anyone who sees this
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I’m with you AZ! Unless something happens obviously.
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I think TM doesn’t believe much in the plus/minus stat. Otherwise JJ wouldn’t be playing the 24 minutes per game he gets.
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Keep the lineup the way it is. Look at Williams as our trade deadline acquisition and make a run at Kovalchuk as a UFA. Lets not get excited because we are finally back in a playoff race.
Just say no to Kovalchuk (at the deadline)
And by the way I love Kovalchuk and am a member of the KovyArmy!
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Hrudy32-
I agree, but it’s fun to watch him go for it anyway. It would just be nice if he found the back of the net more.
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JJ has so much raw talent. If we ever trade this guy he will haunt us…trust me!!
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Atlanta has thrown in the towel according to TSN… Bye bye Kovalchuk
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Hrudey32-
By the way, I would love to see Quick get a mask like the “Hollywood” one that Hrudey used to wear. That’s one of the best goalie masks I have ever seen.
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Jammers, for Quick to yield the hollywood mask he would need to work on his holy flop to pay homage to Hrudey.
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I’m okay with him missing the net, if the shooting lane isn’t there…just keep the shots lower before you kill somebody.
A shot that goes off the boards behind the net can create just as much havoc as one right into the goaltender’s pads…it’s still a rebound.
What you don’t want is your shot to be consistently blocked from the point (er…Randy Jones…er).
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I loved that mask! I also liked (Lord) Byron Dafoe’s mask.
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JJ has broken a cpl panes of glass this year if I’m not mistaken…little lower Jack…
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OldThunder: I guess 29 GM’s called their bluff.
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I think he can turn into a Shea Weber type player. Big, strong, mean, and a hell of a shot. He shows flashes of it, but its just a matter of consistency now.
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Jammers
Remember Hrudey’s USA flag leg pads (stack the pads together like a Mad Magazine back page)? I like his older mask better… pre-Hollywood. The giant forehead one w/ the crown.
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talking about masks…
http://sports.gunaxin.com/wp-content/gallery/goalie_masks/goalie_mask-05.jpg
what’s better than spongebob and pactrick with moose faces??
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I agree with mrbrett7,JJ`s shot is starting to remind me of Blakes,4ft. wide and 4ft.high.I would like to see him use his wrist shot a little more and get it on net.I really believe JJ will be a force on this team.
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Hrudey32 said: -
“JJ has a great shot; a shotgun from the point. And by shotgun I mean it’s hard as hell, but scattered all over the place. Let’s aim at that 6×4 net, there, Jacky.”
Dude, that is one of the funniest things I’ve read in a long time!
Jack is going to continue to improve. If he does get that shot on net and lower on a consistent basis, WATCH OUT!!!
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Get JJ some glasses like Charlie Sheen had to do in Major League
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Waiting for someone to do a “Burger King” mask, LOL!
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@Newf
Now that is funny.
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Took long enough…Byron Dafoe’s mask:
http://www.goaliesarchive.com/masks/masks/dafoe7.jpg
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WTFK -
That was a sweet mask. I couldn’t picture it – thanks for the link.
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>Old Man
Maybe JJ’s shot looks like Blakey’s because that’s who took him under his wing when JJ came up to the show. JJ also lived with Rob and Brandy for a time. That’s not to say it’s a bad thing he misses the 6X4 a lot, he just needs to refine and narrow the aim.
Looking at his signed pic of Blakey holding the Cup aloft in Colorado………PRICELESS!!!
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@ Jammers
I thought of that when brett mentioned about JJ lowering the shots before he kills someone…they said the exact same thing about charlie in major league
Maybe we need a Willy Mays Hays type of guy for the kings. He can skate like lightning, stickhandle like crazy, but can’t shoot for ****
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The Kings are all over the place here
http://twitter.com/TSNBobMcKenzie/
Come on Rich, you have to know something!
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OUT: Calgary (per TSN Bobby) and …. Chicago (NHL Radio)
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regardless what anyone says if we got Kovalchuck then we are a cup contender.
Kovy is not a Hossa, he is an Ovechekin.
I say do it deano! Take the rise. Show us you really want to win!
Folov, Moller, Teubert, 1st
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REM Murray, looks like Bob Mckenzey is also all over the place… He contradicts himself between posts
.
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I watch Bob all the time…he’s pretty well always right on the money, and on top of things as they happen.
Rich, you should make a Kovi/Trade post so no one hijacks your threads
(i mean blog posts, not clothes)
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oldthunder
I will trust Bob on these deals over anyone else. He is never wrong when it comes to this stuff.
I just know Rich knows things too and I trust him as well.
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When he is on the offensive side of center ice, Johnson has marvelous skills. When he is on the defensive side, I think Dieter Ruhle should be playing “If I Only Had A Brain” more often than not. That being said… terrific pass last night, Jack. That’s the kind of play that only a certain level of skill players can make with consistency.
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Had a dream that the Kings traded Purcell, Teubert, and Cloutier’s expiring contract for Kovi. As Roy Orbinson sang, “Only in Dreams”.
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Ducks in the hunt now? Would be like a slap in the face.
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@ buckster, nice one. reminds me of this.
http://images.lamer.net/dan-cloutier.jpg
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When nothing happens (with the Kings) you guys are going to be all upset about it. I, for one, am fairly pleased with them as they are, and the thought of that kind of cap drain bugs me.
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Kings are officially out, so everyone hear can breathe now without mentioning Kovalchulk.. The new word is Whitney! jk
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So Rich, where’s the updates on the Kovalchuk race? The media is in full blast, yet our one and only trusted source is nowhere to be found.
We need updates!
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Officially?
WAT
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Crosstown: Rich is not running a trade rumours web page, he reports on the facts. All we can do is speculate, which is all TSN et al are doing.
Race? If its a race I hope we are running the other direction
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I’m guessing the reason Rich won’t talk is that there’s no news. (Imagine that!) The most current news is that Waddle has overplayed his hand and is now desperate to dish him off by Friday. Either way, that doesn’t solve Kovi’s cap hit.
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Update:
We’re in the loop. Someone will come in and overpay for a rental. It won’t be us. That’s all you need to know.
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You all see that shot that cracked the glass? JJ needs to find the damn net!! When he does he almost always scores….
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Officially the kings are out of the running for Kovy. DL is only willing to give prospects ATL doesn’t want Prospects.
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Is this a tease or does mikeL have a source?
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process: And by almost always goes in did you mean to say 5.4% of the time he hits the net it goes in?
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Very Simple JJ. Watch DD and do exactly what he does.
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JJ has played better of late, but he is still a defensive liability. I think there is a direct cause and effect between him being out of position and his negative plus/minus rating.
I hope he becomes more disciplined because he obviously is a terrific offensive-minded defensemen, but you have to play the puck or the man, JJ and many times this season he has played neither.
I think Kovy popped into this thread because JJ is probably an asset DL would feel comfortable delivering to Atlanta, even for a rental Kovy.
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Wallin to SJ
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As of right now, there are a total of 5 teams who have scored more goals than the Kings. Why do we need Kovi again?
How about adding some more depth to the blue line on a rental basis? How about a cheap forward who plays both sides of the ice?
I’m hoping the Kings don’t make a major trade.
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What is this official report saying the Kings are out of the Kovi running? Is someone teasing me or am I just gullible?
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I agree with all of you that Rich only post facts and he despises rumors. I am glad there is not a waste of blogs by him on speculation.
However, as a fan I admit I am curious about IK’s possible destination because I’d prefer he stay on the east coast so we do not have to face him that often if we ourselves to not have him. Not often are there franchise players on the trading block. ATL fans must be burning their team memorabilia and grabbing pitchforks.
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oldthunder
The 5 teams still in the running PHI, NJ, NYR, BOS and LA.
So you will get your wish of him not coming to the West UNLESS it is the Kings.
Now then, with that being said, all bets are off after July 1st.
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Agreed, Joel. I wouldn’t mess with chemistry right now unless it’s a move for depth. I’d send Purcell and a pick to Carolina for Ray Whitney.
As for the topic at hand, I agree with Hrudey32′s comment about Jack Johnson being a shotgun. That’s a good analogy. I think Jack needs to go back to school on wrist shots. It doesn’t always take a huge windup to score a goal from the point.
Some of the top scoring defensemen have learned that a high backswing can give away the puck’s position to a screened goalie. Lidstrom, Niedermayer, Green… these guys don’t have huge windups, but they’ve scored a lot of points, and often times it’s because the goalie never knew a shot had been taken.
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Marc Nathan…I feel much the same way about Jack…although, you can’t argue that he is improving in his own end. We all forget, yes, he’s been here for just about what, 3 years? 1 was lost to injury basically, and another was being coached by Crawford, enough said.
Jack has never really had to play a defensive game, and now he is kind of learning on the fly. He has the skills and he ability…it’s the mental game that is coming around.
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off topic alert:
Look like Cammy is out 6 weeks with a knee injury and as a former King who I thought was a good guy (even though he was randomly slandered for being “lord cammy” etc etc) just hope he has a full recovery and wish him the best
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“VanKingsFan says:
Crosstown: Rich is not running a trade rumours web page, he reports on the facts. All we can do is speculate, which is all TSN et al are doing.”
Sorry, that doesn’t cut it. This is not some bullcrap eklund BS. This is legit stuff here, the fact is Kovalchuk IS getting traded. You don’t want Rich Hammond to at least ask around if Kings/Thrashers are talking again?
A week ago Rich already confirmed we did infact offer a deal, remember that? I want to know if talks have resumed etc.
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Joel and KingMe20: I agree with both of you!
We’re currently on a 7 game win streak, and 9 out of 10, don’t mess with the chemistry of this bunch, especially if IK is only a rental – the asking price is way too high for that, imho.
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REM I’m sure he won’t come to LA unless DL gets to negotiate a long term deal rather than it being a rental and I don’t see that happening.
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KingMe20
Whitney was going to waive his no trade in exchange for a 3 year deal. DL said thanks but no thanks.
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Off topic #2:
Why doesn’t the Blue Jackets Raffi Torres make sense…rugged Left Winger, can score some, will be an UFA at the end of the year…and he knows Captain Canada and Greener well from their Oiler days…
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Maybe JMFJ should sacrifice a bucket of chicken in his locker so he can find the back of the net a little bit more.
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Do we really need Kovy specifically? It sounds like he would be too expensive and hurt the Kings more than help. Just the fact he is not a King yet must mean DL will NOT give up the farm for this guy, and he doesn’t want to just rent him either.
Lombardi not falling for Waddell’s psychs and dekes……..PRICELESS!!!
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“Now for something completely different.”
I don’t wish to start something that really isn’t there, but I’m just wondering what’s going to happen tomorrow night when Bobby Ryan comes out to play. Is one or more of the Kings going to “address” the boarding that he dealt to Oscar Moller late in the last game between the two teams? Or are the Kings going to stay focused on continuing their winning ways?
Any thoughts, predictions? I’m just curious. I’m not intended to have a bounty put on his head or anything, just curious what the reaction will be.
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Kovi was asking for $11.3 mil/yr which is based on 20% of ATL salary cap, the max allowed under the CBA
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As far as Bobby Ryan goes he needs to watch out im going out on a limb and saying that Wayne Simmonds will have some fist o fury for him
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Anybody gonna add Ivanans and Parros to their fantasy teams for tomorrow night?
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Hmmm. That would be $217,307.69 per goal, on an annual basis, based on his scoring this year.
I’m not sure that that’s worth the price, to be honest.
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kopi11 – I agree totally!
I saw what Simmonds did in Boston and I thought to myself, “That’s well worth the 19 minutes in penalties.” Legal check or not, you HAVE to stand up for your teammates and that’s what Wayne did. Hopefully, Mr. Ryan will get the message that you don’t do that to us, especially in our building.
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As Rich has said many times, chemistry is overrated. “Messing with the teams winning streak” is just ridiculous. If you can get a great player, you do it. Williams went down. Smyth went down. Jack went down. Injuries happen and the team recovers. We had a huge boost from last year’s non-contributors in Parse and Richardson. Certainly a Whitney or Kovy would add a great spark and take us from a)a team making the playoffs to b) a team contending for the Cup.
That is why DL is in the midst of trying to make a deal work. And remember, we are 3 mill under the cap and Frolov comes off the books in July (at least 3 mil and maybe 5 mil) so that’s 6-8 million right there to spend towards a great player, whom I will not name (by request).
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To me, his game started improving for the better once the Michigan/DL comments got out. Coincidence?
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>R.E.M. Murray
$11.3 mil/yr. for Kovy???? Geez, is he THAT GOOD??? Maybe that’s why the rumor mill for him to go to the KHL is he’ll get $20 mill there??? Crazy???
Watching Lombardi not bite off more than he can chew……PRICELESS!!!
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Someone on the Kings will need address Mr. Ryan. As for whom it will be, it doesn’t matter, but you can’t just let it go.
Watching Grimson one punch Simpson into la la land on YouTube and wishing it was a Bobby Ryan lesson instead……PRICELESS!!!
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Mike -
I think B Ryan will hurt more if his team loses.
Don’t get me wrong I’d love to see him get punished for that hit on OM
TM has our boys playin some of the best hockey in the NHL! When is the last time we could say that.
Maybe RI will earn his paycheck and crush “Bobbie” but I still think a win makes everything feel great and a loss stings like hell
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REM…I was actually thinking of adding both…I need PIM’s right now.
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we dont need kovi i dont want to break up the team
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JJ is still developing… And his play is improving (as Rich noted). Don’t kid yourselves, there isn’t a team in the league that wouldn’t jump to snap him up.
Plus his offensive touch is nice.
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JJ’s game is weak in virtually every area except shootouts. The numbers don’t lie. His board work is weak. His short break out passes are terrible. His slap shot is horribly inaccurate. His upside is his reputation from college that can be used to offer him up as trade bait.
I do think the Kings are using him as trade bait. I believe this is why there has been nothing negative said by TM. I think DL’s comments were offered up in hopes that JJ would be motivated and have a spurt of decent play right before the trade deadline making him appear more valuable than he actually is.
I expect JJ or Fro to go with Purcell, Harold and/or Ivan to be in the trade for Kova. And it will happen before Friday.
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