Pittsburgh Signs Goalie With Ties To Team
Matt Bodenschatz | Pittsburgh Penguins
Jul 21, 03:19 PM | Hype this story!
The Pittsburgh Penguins today announced the signing of veteran backup Brent Johnson to a one-year, one-way contract worth $525,000.
Johnson, the son of former Penguins goalie Bob Johnson, spent the previous four seasons with the Washington Capitals as a backup to Olaf Kolzig and Jose Theodore.
While the 32-year-old’s resume includes only spot starts, his role makes him a perfect fit for the Penguins, who were in need of a veteran to compete with rookie John Curry for backup duties.
He tallied 12 wins in 21 games with the Capitals last season before suffering an injury. He did not play in the playoffs.
In 247 career games with the Capitals, Phoenix Coyotes and St. Louis Blues, Johnson has earned a 111-94-13 record, a 2.63 goals-against average, a .903 save percentage, and 13 shutouts.
- A look at the Penguins’ roster, including salary cap information, can be found here.
- A look a the Penguins’ summer transactions can be found here.
Comments
KG
Jul 21, 03:20 PM
http://community.citizensvoice.com/blogs/penguins/archive/2009/07/21/pens-sign-brent-johnson.aspx
JB says 1 year, 1 way $525,000…That’s some nice value..another good signing by Shero.
Ben Schmidt
Jul 21, 03:20 PM
Well, this would seem to finalize the NHL roster. They’ve got 13 forwards, 7 defensemen (including Lovejoy), and 2 goaltenders. By my calculations, it also leaves them with a bit over $1M in cap space, so call-ups shouldn’t be a problem. At most, a prospect will get a chance to replace Talbot in the roster for a little while.
Good move by Shero. Johnson is a very capable backup, and this gives Curry a chance to develop a bit more before making the jump full-time to the NHL.
bag o' pucks
Jul 21, 03:30 PM
As soon as Sanford signed with the Habs, all indicators were that this was the guy the Pens were after. Fleury-Johnson-Curry-Thiessen. WB/S can now add a guy like a Berkhoel and that would be able to move back and forth between the A and the Coast to solidify the position throughout the org. Well done.
Moq
Jul 21, 03:30 PM
In my mind the best among the affordable backup goaltender options at a price of $525,000. That’s almost highway robbery, but you’re starting to expect that from Shero this offseason.
Matt Bodenschatz
Jul 21, 03:32 PM
@KG, thanks for the heads-up. I would agree that Johnson is a solid pickup. In fact, he’s a goaltender I was quietly hoping Shero might target. And, at just over one half of a million dollars, he’s very affordable for what he has proven he can bring to the table: experience, a great personality/attitude, and quality relief duty.
@Ben, my roster breakdown shows the Penguins in a strong cap situation with $1.632 million in cap space and one roster spot remaining — assuming Lovejoy is the seventh defenseman on the NHL roster.
Shero continues to prove why he was hired several years ago. He is, without a doubt, one of the best general managers in hockey today.
Matt Bodenschatz
Jul 21, 03:34 PM
@Moq, I missed your comment when I posted mine. You nailed it with the highway robbery statement. Shero just keeps finalizing contracts that few could predict.
bag o' pucks
Jul 21, 03:35 PM
Oh, and not lost in this is that Curry’s agent was reportedly pushing pretty hard for a one-way deal. Any and all of his negotiating leverage is now moot. Time for Curry to sign his QA and get ready for camp.
Nathan
Jul 21, 03:40 PM
I’m curious now to see what happens with Curry. From all indications from his agent (and why wouldn’t he want this) Curry wants a one-way contract and the backup position.
I’m personally very happy with the signing, as I wasn’t looking forward to Curry backing up Fleury this year.
bag o' pucks
Jul 21, 04:05 PM
Of course, by QA I meant QO. Then again, Curry played his college hockey in Boston, so they’d probably pronounce it “Ahffer,” anyway…
Ben Schmidt
Jul 21, 04:08 PM
@Matt – Your roster breakdown doesn’t seem to include Lovejoy’s cap hit, though you include him on the roster. Including his cap hit, the Pens end up with 1.132M in cap space.
The great thing about that, is that turns into the equivalent of just over 5M in cap space at the trading deadline, thanks to prorating (I’m assuming the trading deadline will occur with 40 days left out of 186 in the season like it did this past season). Now call-ups will chip away at some of that, but that’s still some rather nice flexibility for Shero.
Shero gets an A+ for this offseason from me, in any case.
Matt Bodenschatz
Jul 21, 04:10 PM
@Bag and Nathan, I tend to agree. Nothing against Curry, but he’s smallish and hasn’t done well under the pressure of the AHL playoffs. I’d like to see him battle for the NHL backup job if he is to get it — and the signing of Johnson will make him do just that.
And before someone says, “he may not sign now” or “the Penguins are going to deter future undrafted free agents from coming here,” let me just say that you don’t make roster decisions based on possible future ramifications. No players is or should be handed anything. No player’s contract demands are or should be met simply to demonstrate to other players that the team is a good employer.
If Curry chooses not to sign, it could very well be the worst decision of his young career — one that could force him to sit out and not play hockey for some or all of the 2009-10 season. He and his agent understand this. He will be under contract before long, and it will be on the terms set forth by the Penguins, not his agent.
@Ben, Moq pointed that out to me. I have updated it. My apologies, and thanks for letting me know.
Dabich
Jul 21, 04:59 PM
Great news! Shero is indeed a wizard, and he’s making miracles!
Malk
Jul 21, 05:18 PM
When I think about it I think this is an awesome deal. Very cheap contract, vet backup, and he is pretty good as a backup. I still think the backup goalie isn’t set yet. Assuming Curry resigns, I think the Pens could use Johnson as a Conklin-type as well.
Matt Bodenschatz
Jul 21, 05:43 PM
@Dabich, he sure has a bit of magic up his sleeve, what with re-signing Adams, Guerin and Fedotenko at reduced salaries, adding McKee for less than $1 million and adding Johnson for just over league minimum.
@Malk, no doubt there will be a competition. Johnson’s salary wouldn’t be too much for the Penguins to eat if he was to get sent to the AHL. But I think this signing is a bit more than a quality minor league veteran to compete with Curry. Johnson was very good in Washington last season. In fact, at one point, he was the starter for the Capitals, playing better hockey than any goalie on the team. If Fleury were to get injured, I’d be comfortable with Johnson starting for a stretch of 15-20 games.
miami85
Jul 21, 06:01 PM
Again the pens sign someone with “Penguin legacy” :) If I’m not mistaken, wasn’t Brent’s older brother also a member of the penguins—the one that was on the 1980 U.S. hockey team?
Malk
Jul 21, 07:32 PM
Well either way let’s hope we don’t need to worry about it that much. If one Johnson or Curry needs to play alot you know what that means. We need Flower to stay healthy this season!
dave
Jul 21, 08:29 PM
Matt how can you saw he has had trouble in the ahl playoffs? His first year in goal he took them to the finals against a stacked wolves team. This year he got hurt in the playoffs and Berkhol came in and played injured himself. So to say he has not done well in the ahl playoffs is a bit of a reach.
bag o' pucks
Jul 21, 08:34 PM
@Dave. Curry’s career regular season save percentage (IMO, the most telling statistic regarding goaltender performance) is around .916, but it drops below .900 in the post-season. Yes, Curry has, overall, a winning record in the post-season, but a near-.02% point drop is notable.
dave
Jul 21, 09:32 PM
Bag I still say for matt to say he struggles in the playoffs is a reach at best Curry has continually progressed at every level. While I am not campaigning for him to be the big clubs only option at back up. I am saying I think matt is wrong in his judgement of currys performance but I will agree on his size.
You also have to take into account in the ahl the playoff grind is a little tougher than the nhl playing 3 games in 3 nights is what got curry put on I R this year and playing a scheduale like that is going to affect any goalies numbers when your consinder the #1.
Matt Bodenschatz
Jul 21, 09:39 PM
@Pucks, that is exactly what I was getting at.
@Dave, “struggles” is definitely the wrong word to portray what I was saying. In the playoffs, goaltenders have a tendency of stepping up under a more defensive game, thus improving save percentage and goals-against average. His save percentage has dropped significantly, which indicates he hasn’t elevated his game, even though he has done enough to backstop his team to deep runs. All I am saying is that his performances in the playoffs — despite his win totals — hasn’t necessarily been inspiring.
phil rosenstein
Jul 21, 10:57 PM
Yet another outstanding deal by Shero.
This must be one of the benefits of winning the Cup – people signing with us for (much) less than they could get elsewhere.
Or perhaps, it has something to do with 87, 71, 11, 29 and so on.
Either the recent history of winning or the promise of future winning is causing people to sign for less just to play with us.
McKee, Guerin, Feds, Johnson, etc…
Phil
DS
Jul 21, 11:46 PM
“His save percentage has dropped significantly, which indicates he hasn’t elevated his game, even though he has done enough to backstop his team to deep runs. All I am saying is that his performances in the playoffs — despite his win totals — hasn’t necessarily been inspiring.”
.912 reg. season——> .908 playoffs
.933!! 07/08——->.908 08/09
...oh, I’m, sorry, that’s MARC-ANDRE FLEURY.
Matt, isn’t it a touch hypocritical to criticize Curry in the playoffs considering Fleury’s performance this year??
So MAF had that spectacular playoff in 2008. But will we ever see that again? And it’s demonstrated over, and over, and over again in the NHL playoffs that goalie performance and desired outcome are (unfortunately) not guaranteed to go hand-in-catching glove.
MAF wasn’t going to make anybody forget (or remember) Ken Dryden this year, but they pulled off the ’71 Habs miracle nonetheless.
I wouldn’t lose sleep over John Curry’s playoff performances; I think he’s done well enough — and if he’s going to play playoff games for the Pens, we have bigger problems.
bag o' pucks
Jul 21, 11:50 PM
@Dave. Agreed that minor league schedules are brutal. But we’re also talking about last season’s run to the Calder Finals. He was 14-9, but his save percentage was an unimpressive .899. Goligoski and Tim Brent got red hot in the playoffs, and they were the primary reasons for the deep run. I’m not going as far as saying that the AHL Pens won despite Curry, but he was average, at best.
DS
Jul 21, 11:51 PM
So, uh, yeah, Brent Johnson.
Is he gonna wear #35, too?? (seeing as how Curry’s already using #1?)
bag o' pucks
Jul 22, 12:07 AM
@DS. No one’s jumping on the kid too hard here. That Calder Final was also his first pro post-season, and he followed that up with another good season. The Pens are very high on Curry, and he’s certainly still in their plans. He doesn’t have to clear waivers so there’s no danger in moving him between the leagues. I think it’s just a matter of them giving the kid one more year to log lots of playing time. There’s a good chance he’ll get some time in Pittsburgh this year, too, as Fleuty and Johnson have both battled injuries in the last couple years.
bag o' pucks
Jul 22, 12:14 AM
Fleuty… Yeah, didn’t you know they also signed Doug Flutie to an AHL deal? He’s small but he’s a battler!
Matt Bodenschatz
Jul 22, 01:35 AM
@Phil, I’m sure some of the signing has to do with Shero being good at talking up the team, but the opportunity to play with Malkin, Crosby, and the rest of the defending champs means a lot to some players, I’m sure.
@DS, I think my comments on Curry are being taken way too far. He’s a fine young goaltender, but he’s also had his struggles. The fact that Shero brought in a veteran NHL goalie on a one-way contract would seem to go along with such statements that something about his play is not leaving the best impression. Can he overcome it and win the backup job? No question.
Now, with regard to Fleury, you’ll note that I pointed out after the Cup run that he was not nearly as good as he was a year ago and, in many cases, he let his team down. Numbers clearly don’t always tell the story, but when stats are down, typically a goalie isn’t playing the same hockey he is when stats are up. The same is true for both Fleury and Curry. The difference between the two is that Fleury is an NHL veteran. He isn’t trying to prove himself worthy of a roster spot.
@Pucks, exactly. I’m not sure why being realistic about a young player triggers such strong emotions. I want Curry to succeed. I really do. But it’s never a bad thing to ease a young player along, allowing him to take his time and fully develop.
Moq
Jul 22, 05:43 AM
The reason for my preference of Johnson over Curry has little to do with comparison of save percentages (across different leagues) or playoff results but rests on their respective experiences. Even though Fleury has been to successive Stanley Cup finals he’s not outside the realms of further guidance and mentoring, and outside the goaltender coach, additional experience cannot be a bad thing. If Curry continues his development he’ll get his chance. Besides, the backup position hasn’t been decided yet though I expect Johnson to be the clear favourite.
The second issue of promoting prospects touches upon the Curry situation. When you argue that few prospects have been given a chance to earn a spot on the roster, you’re really talking about second and third tier talent. The likes of Crosby, Malkin, Staal, Fleury, etc. are already there. Beyond these names the talent available have been scarce, which reflects on promotion and roster turnover. After all, who didn’t make it? Taffe, Minard, Filewich, James, Mormina, Pesonen and similar names? They’re not in the NHL for a reason, though some may have an outside chance somewhere else.
Judging by the WB/S roster things are about to change for the better. Just in time for a period of potential salary cap decline, where every capable youngster on an entry-level contract is a diamond in the rough. Not everyone will make it because the situation in Pittsburgh has changed from bottom feeder to contender. (You rarely get a stretch of 20-30 games in the NHL to show what you can do.) The few teams that actually include 2-3 prospects every year are rarely in contention for anything but high draft picks. A quick glance on a team like Detroit reveals that promotion is earned. Why should Pittsburgh be any different in their approach to talent?
bag o' pucks
Jul 22, 11:01 AM
@Moq. Both Matt and I have been playing that tune for awhile. Maybe if we keep repeating it, it will eventually sink in with some folks.
bag o' pucks
Jul 22, 11:50 AM
@Matt. We need a prospect camp page! Nice article by Metz on day one.
http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog/Brian-Metzer/Late-Night-Rookie-Camp-Update-Q—As-and-On-Ice-Thoughts/54/22240
In short, Tangradi and Veilleux are studs and played like it. Caputi started poorly but got better as the focus shifted from drills to scrimmage. Zabotel had a rough day. Sneep just keeps getting better. Strait was good, but not great. Vitale isn’t terribly skilled, but quick and feisty. Thiessen was good. Killeen looked pretty good, too.
dave
Jul 22, 01:43 PM
bag I always assume the playoffs will be more of a grind for ahl guys and I factor that into the way I portray the players. In ahl hockey it is one of the few leagues where your roster can go from being ahl full timers to being nhl prospects and washed up nhl players playing for a ticket back or to the khl. With any prospect i expect thier numbers to drop.
Tom reread my post i praised curry and while I have never been to a wbs game in person I did pay for a year of ahl live to follow the team. to say I am not aware of whatt curry did is just wrong
Matt Bodenschatz
Jul 22, 07:15 PM
@Moq, as Pucks said, that’s a philosophy that has been debated at length on here. I, for one, am a proponent of the promotion by merit method, not the promotion to boost morale method.
@Pucks, the problem with a prospects camp section is that we haven’t yet had the opportunity for any FF writers to make it to the camp. This is a busy week at work for me, so the only day I can possibly go is Saturday, but Zach Boslett and Eric Politowski were planning on going at least once.
@Tom, you’ve been told this before, and this will be the last time we touch on this subject. If your intent is to rile up the masses and “troll” FF, you won’t be around much longer. Having an opposing viewpoint is fine. Antagonizing people and rehashing the same arguments is not. Advance conversations, add viewpoints, stop antagonizing. Thank you.
bag o' pucks
Jul 22, 09:39 PM
Pensburgh is reporting that Pittsburgh offered the backup spot to another goalie familiar to Danny Bylsma before they signed Brent Johnson.
http://www.pensburgh.com/
Matt Bodenschatz
Jul 22, 09:40 PM
@Tom, you know full-well what I mean, as we’ve discussed this in the past. This has zero to do with your differing opinions. It has everything to do with your approach. If you don’t like what I am saying, you can take your opinions elsewhere.
Matt Bodenschatz
Jul 23, 12:31 PM
@Tom, move on.
bag o' pucks
Jul 28, 04:48 PM
WB/S signed Adam Berkhoel to an AHL deal today. As was earlier surmised that, with the addition of Johnson, a fifth goalie on an NHL deal was unnecessary. It would seem Berk will battle it out with Brad Thiessen to backup, in all likelihood, John Curry in WB/S this season. If the Pens come through camp healthy and want Thiessen to play, he may end up in Wheeling. If he has a great camp, maybe he challenges Curry a bit and forces mgmt to keep him in WB/S (at least at the start of the season). At any rate, some more healthy competition in the short depth chart.
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