EJ Whines about PT
This caught my eye when I was reading this blog article. Johnson claims he didn't expect to be playing behind a senior and a junior. This is the reason the Gophers were bounced from the NCAA playoffs early the last two seasons. Its the me, me, me attitude of putting personal gain ahead of team goals. I think actually the Gophers will be better without EJ.
Many people including Johnson were taken back by the lack of playing time he received from the Minnesota coaching staff. Johnson didn’t expect to be playing behind a senior and a junior d-man. Johnson will tell you he thrives when he’s the guy. He admits he doesn’t play as good as he can when he’s not the premier guy. Johnson credits US Development coach John Hynes for giving him the confidence to take on this type of pressure. Johnson and Hynes butted heads and engaged in a few verbal wars in his first year with the program, but By the time Johnson left for Minnesota he had had grown an enormous amount of respect for Hynes.
When Johnson met with the Minnesota coaching staff following the season they suggested that he return for another year but Johnson feels turning pro will allow him to develop at the necessary pace. Johnson signed an entry level contract that was pretty easy to negotiate. He will earn $850,000 and can make an additional $850,000 in A bonuses and another two million in B bonuses.
Hopefully Backes can teach this kid some class and how to quit being a baby! He reminds me of Randy Moss. Ick. That is NOT a good thing.
ReplyDeleteHe needs to get over himself. Perhaps a few big boy punches in a NHL game will do that:)
EJ should be happy, well, since Pronger and Big Al are no longer with St. Louis. How would he "thrive" if he was only the number 3 guy on defense. Because you know he couldn't have possibly learned anything from those two guys :)
ReplyDeleteIt's no doubt that he is a talent, but I think it borders on selfishness and arogance to think your going to just be the go to buy specially with Goli being in my opinion one of the best offensive defensman in the NCAA, he is a junior.
ReplyDeleteEJ is going to find out that he is a very small fish in a very big pond when he gets to the NHL.
Look at Hale the kid was dominant in college and is barely scrathing the line up in Calgary right now.
Good luck to him, I won't miss his antics. One this kid lacks is the polish and class of say a Matt Carle.
I wonder how he and Wagner (both being "d" men) will get along. Granted Wags isn't as good but he works harder and has a better attitude, so you never know...he may make it quicker than EJ...which would send EJ into orbit!
ReplyDeleteOh and I think you meant to write "this kid lacks the polish and class of say a DAVID BACKES" :) Come on goonster, get with your inner Mav fan and give our boys some props!!
I guess one way to make sure he played ahead of said senior and junior would have been to have played better than them (Vannelli and Goligoski, repectively). I doubt anyone would claim that he was better than either.
ReplyDeleteChris Good point. That statement really chapped me even as a Sioux fan. I think EJ thought he was just going to come into the league and be the go to guy, sounds like he was reading his press clippings too much.
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