Terry Murray had strong praise on Tuesday for all of the efforts of his defensemen in Monday’s victory over San Jose, but when asked about Jack Johnson, Murray had particularly kind words. Johnson had one assist, a plus-3 rating and was credited with a team-high five blocked shots as he played 25 minutes, 32 seconds, more than anyone in the game. Plus-minus is a statistic of questionable value, but in a relative sense, Johnson has made great strides. He is plus-9 in his last six games, bringing him to plus-1 for the season. Johnson has never finished a full season better than minus-15. He is now part of what seems to be an improving pair with Drew Doughty, and today, Murray talked about Johnson’s effort against the Sharks…
MURRAY: “Tremendous. He had some good games in the early part of the year, and then he really hit a black hole there for a while, where he was minus at the end of the day but really not involved in the play. There were a couple games when he was just stepping onto the ice, on a line change, and it was, `Minus-3, minus-3, minus-3.’ He is really playing well, though. He got it back, and he had an excellent game last night. Puck movement, his coverage, his reads, three-on-three, the switches down low, it’s all becoming instinctive. The hesitation is starting to leave his game. When you start to close fast, and the puck is arriving and you’re anticipating, you can become a great player.”
way to go JJ way to turn around ur game keep it up
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Another player that I’m glad to see is having a great year for the Kings, especially with DD’s production a bit down. I’m a little concerned about his pairing with DD regularly since both right now are not at the top of their defensive games, so I’d like to see them each paired with a Scuds or Mitchell to back them up in case of a breakdown on the offensive play they were trying.
But TM said it clearly…there were gimes in November where JJ simply seemed like another warm body on the ice rather than being actively involved. And when he tried to get involved, it pretty much resulted in a breakaway for the other team. Good to see that he’s doing better with that.
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Not sure any of us fans thought JJ and DD would end up being a pair (or should be). But it really seems to be working out well despite the conventional wisdom of separating two puck-moving defensemen.
What’s interesting is taking a consistent minus player like JJ and putting him with a consistent plus player like DD. Something had to give. Would JJ bring DD’s plus downward or would it be the other way around? Pretty cool that it’s going the plus way.
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Bonvivant1 Reply:
December 28th, 2010 at 2:51 pm
@wavesinair, I think their games compliment each other so well that any negatives might be cancelled out. Playing both together in certain situations creates all kinds of problems for opposing coaches. With the emergence of Martinez as a bona-fide, puck moving offensive-defensemen Murray has more options with pairings. Scuds can play with anyone. Greener can play with anyone. As the season progresses teams that are looking to gain separation in the standings are going to need to get at least 20% production from the back end.
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FKA PakiFro Reply:
December 28th, 2010 at 3:28 pm
@Bonvivant1,
Green can only play with a defensive d-man (Scuds, OD last year). He’s not good enough on his own to clean up the mess of a high-risk defensmen like JMFJ. He needs a defensive minded dman to cover up his mistakes most of the time. He’s not good on the transition games. He’s at his best when the play is in shut-down mode, like a PK or end of the game scenario. I’m not bashing the guy or anything, I’m just stating he’s nothing more than a 5/6 d-man and can hardly play with “anyone”.
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Bonvivant1 Reply:
December 28th, 2010 at 8:35 pm
@FKA PakiFro, I have to respectfully disagree with you. As Johnson is becoming more positionally sound, as evident by his on ice time and decreasing -, and he continues to learn to read situations, putting him with another physical D like Greener is not a bad idea. I would actually like to see a paring of Johnson and Greener against Philly.
ToughD Reply:
December 29th, 2010 at 12:57 am
@FKA PakiFro, them are wise words. Greener should remain on 3rd line duty and maybe some PK.
The black hole period referenced by TM had JJ paired with Greener…”Minus-3, minus-3, minus-3″. Let’s not see that again!
KC23 Reply:
December 28th, 2010 at 4:18 pm
@wavesinair, I’m very surprised TM went with this pair 5 on 5, but it sure is working out. Gonna be interesting to see who Mitchell is paired with when he comes back.
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Doughty99 Reply:
December 28th, 2010 at 4:50 pm
@KC23,
I think JJ’s recent +/- improvement is actually a credit to DD as much as JMFJ. Earlier this year, when DD was “struggling”, he kept saying his game was fine and that the “shut-down guy” part of his game had improved and the points would come.
As usual, doughting (see what I did there?
‘the gifted one’ proved foolish. Anyone paired with “Cowboy Jack”, needs to be that “shut-down guy” or “safety net”, or you’re gonna see that +/- surge in the wrong direction.
Credit to both the guys, it’s great to see them co-existing so successfully.
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Doughty99 Reply:
December 28th, 2010 at 4:51 pm
@Doughty99,
this comment should’ve been @wavesinair.
JJ is quietly having a, should I say it?, Norris Trophy type season. I can hear the sighs and nay sayers. He’s top ten in defensive scoring. Sure he does not have the goal production of Letang or Lidstrom etc. but his game and offense is improving.
He’s spending more time on the power play with Doughty and his ice time is creeping up. His confidence seems to be brewing as was evident by that spin-o-rama move and far side attempt at goal in last nights game. He sure had Sharks defensemen Murray fooled on that play.
He is playing much better in the zone and making much better decisions with the puck. He’s plus 9 during the recent winning streak. I like the kid. I’ve always liked the kid and I hope he does get some league wide consideration if he continues to put up offensive numbers.
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wavesinair Reply:
December 28th, 2010 at 2:52 pm
As is evidenced by TM’s quote, he’s really starting to play well. Much, much better than even a month ago. Can’t say his season is anywhere near Norris potential, but if he keeps it up, he will certainly get well deserved recognition.
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Dominick Reply:
December 28th, 2010 at 3:02 pm
@Bonvivant1, During the small time that DD was down, I actually mentioned this. As DD returned his play did drop (but not to the level that I wanted to get rid of him), but I always felt he’d play through it. I’m totally exstatic about his play lately, but he would have to be the difference on a nightly basis to close the gap on the Norris trophy finalist list. Not that he can’t, I just don’t see our system allowing him to do it all by himself, all the time. I would love to see him at least make the list, a year after DD did. Lets hope he continues the great play.
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KC23 Reply:
December 28th, 2010 at 4:20 pm
@Bonvivant1, JJ is not having a Norris season. Not even close. Lingstrum or Byfuglien will win it.
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Dave Reply:
December 28th, 2010 at 4:29 pm
@KC23, How do you get Byfuglien correct and mangle Lidstrom? LOL.
Agree that JJ isn’t up for a Norris just yet. Quite a pleasure to see him developing right in front of our eyes though.
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What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
December 28th, 2010 at 4:46 pm
@Bonvivant1, I’d call Norris overstatement. I’m just glad to see him being an asset, rather than a liability.
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ToughD Reply:
December 29th, 2010 at 1:20 am
@Bonvivant1, Norris trophy, offense, puck-moving, plus-minus, spin-o-ramas…who cares? For me, JJ just needs to keep improving his D.
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Ducks suck fatties Reply:
December 29th, 2010 at 4:12 pm
@ToughD,
can we stop with the stupid “spin-o-Rama”?!?! That’s lame-a-heim sucks “broadcasters” talk! Hearing Jim fox say it this yr is killing me!
How about “he spins around the dman and shoots!?!?”
sorry just unloading some frustration about how stupid that term sounds.
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He really had a great game last night. I was a little skeptical of the DD/JJ pairing but I’m so happy to see them find success together. They’ve both been playing very, very well.
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Off topic: I just wanted to voice my concerns that we have a really big 3 becoming RFA’s, not to mention 3 others who I would like to see signed. Williams is a big FA, not to mention a few others(ZUES), and still no ones talking about it. Almost 1/2 way through the season and not a single player is resolved. I know DL has a plan, but time is ticking dude.
Don’t wait till the summer, and have 11 players cripple our chances to negotiate.
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xeropoint Reply:
December 28th, 2010 at 8:31 pm
@Dominick,
Who knows whats transpiring in the front office, but I would venture a guess as to Doughty’s contract being the linchpin to everyone else’s deals.
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Schenn is kicking buns in the world Junior cup! He has 5 Pts with less then 5 min on the game. In 2 games he is 2 5 for 7 pts! Wow!
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kevin Reply:
December 28th, 2010 at 3:31 pm
@Sammuch, I always thought we should have kept him up in the show but its hard to say they made a bad call with lewis he is playing great he changes the energy of the game every time he steps on the ice.
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KC23 Reply:
December 28th, 2010 at 4:22 pm
@Sammuch, Juniors is juniors and the NHL is something else, but glad to see he is playing well.
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We all know that Jack Johnson has so much talent offensively. Had he scored on that spin move last night, it would have been the highlight of the night… well, at least until Kopitar did his thing.
I think the only thing that’s been missing from Jack’s game is consistency in the defensive end of his game, and it looks like he’s found that. Very happy with his play of late. I really want him to become the guy we all think he can be so that all the calls to trade him are silenced. He’s still a very young player in this league, and I think he’d be a number one on a lot of other teams.
Keep it up JMFJ. We’re loving it.
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xeropoint Reply:
December 28th, 2010 at 8:33 pm
@Kingme20,
His flashes are turning into a shining spotlight.
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Off Topic. Brayden Schenn had a goal and four assists as Canada beat Czech Republic today.
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Has anyone else noticed that leading the way in the +/- dept. is our captain Dustin Brown (+18)?
Now I am not saying he is not good in his own end, but it is surprising to me that he leads the team in +/- thus far.
Great job brownie, and great job JMFJ!
GKG
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KC23 Reply:
December 28th, 2010 at 4:23 pm
@mattmonforton, Leading the team? … he dam well is almost leading the NHL. He is ahead of Crosby.
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glad to see j.j. silence his critics……….. he and d.d. are still puppies guys
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What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
December 28th, 2010 at 4:48 pm
@lvkingaholic, I’m glad to see him learning from his mistakes, which were worthy of criticism, especially when uncorrected.
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i agree, he does some dumb sh#% sometimes, but thats how you learn
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What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
December 29th, 2010 at 9:58 am
@lvkingaholic, Again, young players are expected to make mistakes. When he makes progress, it seems to be because he learns from them…the knock on him is that he doesn’t seem to do that as much of the time as he should. He started the season seeming to do that, and he got credit for it. He seemed to fall off the wagon for a while, but looks like he’s back. I think we all hope the issue has become a thing of the past.
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I just bought the URL JACKJOHNSONPLUSMINUS.COM I’m going to make a site solely dedicated to JMFJ’s +/- stat since it’s such a big deal to everybody and has been such a big topic of debate over the years.
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