Erik Johnson sends a clear message postgame "until we have a commitment to team defense, we won’t accomplish much"

[Broken Ankles]

8 hours ago, nfreeman said:

Yes -- they are definitely getting good goaltending on the PK.  Comrie was solid as a rock last night.

But Greenway, Johnson and Clifton have all been major upgrades on the PK as well, along with improved PK play by TT and Muel.  They have guys who know what they're doing out there now and they are playing with determination.

Last year, obviously Muel had the most TOI on the PK, but followed by Lybuskin, Joki, Gus, Cozens, Dahlin and Tuch.  The new look has EJ, Greenway, Muel, Tage, Power, Clifton and Kyle.  These are wholesale personnel changes, and it’s showing early returns.  The fact Ras doesn’t have to play the PK is going to help spreading those minutes 5v5 without exhausting him. 

[LabattBlue]

54 minutes ago, thewookie1 said:

They are role players and leaders in their own right. Not all leaders fill the exact same role.

Okposo is the team Dad, the players look to him for support

Girgensons is the longest tenured player and the hard working 4th liner. Sort of like the cool uncle.

Johnson is that older gentleman in your office who has oodles of experience and has truly achieved what you dream of already. He's your Dad's friend but isn't going to coddle you like he might.  

Maybe, maybe not. 

[nfreeman]

27 minutes ago, LabattBlue said:

Maybe, maybe not. 

Hard to argue with this!

[LabattBlue]

3 minutes ago, nfreeman said:

Hard to argue with this!

I guess my point is no one really knows who is valuable on the bench, during practice and in the locker room…unless strong statements like the one by EJ are stated to the media. 

[Thorner]

34 minutes ago, LabattBlue said:

Maybe, maybe not. 

[kas23]

5 hours ago, LabattBlue said:

Question…why is it the newcomer who has been here less than a month have to be the guy calling the team out?  Isn’t that why guys like Okposo and Girgensons were brought back?

I guess the message is much more impactful when it comes from a player who’s actually won something. 

[DarthEbriate]

3 hours ago, thewookie1 said:

They are role players and leaders in their own right. Not all leaders fill the exact same role.

Okposo is the team Dad, the players look to him for support

Girgensons is the longest tenured player and the hard working 4th liner. Sort of like the cool uncle.

Johnson is that older gentleman in your office who has oodles of experience and has truly achieved what you dream of already. He's your Dad's friend but isn't going to coddle you like he might.  

So Girgs is Dutch (or Hutch, if you go way back) Vander and Johnson is more of a Pops guy. Sure, they both helped immobilize destroyers back at Scarif in the day, but they don't have the footspeed anymore to make the final decisive trench run.... 

I'm tracking. 

[Pimlach]

11 hours ago, LabattBlue said:

Maybe, maybe not. 

 

[Buffalonill]

Maybe he should be the one with the "C" It seems they listen..