Loyalty, faith, trust — these are all good things, especially for sports fans. It’s good to be loyal to your team, to have faith that management knows what they’re doing, and to trust that moves made will work out positively.
Blind faith and blind trust, though, are not so good. They set fans up for disappointment. Blind faith and blind trust are how I’d describe the reaction earlier this week to the anticipated Jack Johnson signing, one that figures to pay him between 3 and 3.5 million dollars annually over five years.
While some Penguins fans have displayed a healthy skepticism about the move, citing Johnson’s underwhelming career resume as evidence, in other corners the reaction has been one of all-in enthusiasm, to the point where those in the blind faith crowd are acting like Johnson having major success here is a foregone conclusion.
It really harkens back to the days when Ray Shero was the Penguins’ general manager, and the slogan among internet-savvy Pens fans was, “In Shero We Trust,” until, of course, they didn’t.
After he delivered the Penguins a Stanley Cup in 2009 with a series of shrewd moves, Shero was hailed as a hero, a man who could do no wrong. This continued despite multiple failed trips to the postseason, some of them due to the failure of deadline acquisitions to push the Penguins over the hump.
Shero eventually got fired, of course, and while Jim Rutherford’s arrival was greeted with something less than fanfare, he quickly won fans over with a series of good moves, like the Patric Hornqvist for James Neal trade, as well as moving on swiftly when it was clear that Mike Johnston was not the man to lead the Penguins.
Two Cups later, Rutherford has built up quite a reservoir of goodwill, and for good reason. That kind of winning, winning brought on with help from some wildly successful trades, will placate even the most demanding fan base.
Still, just because Rutherford has been largely great doesn’t mean he’s been infallible. Matt Hunwick was brought in before last season and promptly got shipped out this week so that the Penguins could cut salary. Rutherford’s Derick Brassard trade hasn’t yet worked out, though it still might. Remember Sergei Plotnikov? That was Rutherford, too.
Admittedly, throwing Plotnikov in there was kind of cheap, and perhaps highlights the fact that Rutherford hasn’t had many major misses, but still, the man hasn’t pushed every right button all of the time.
Back to Johnson, though. I’ve yet to hear — from anyone — a substantive argument about why he’ll be good in a Penguins sweater, other than the fact that the Penguins are better than the Blue Jackets overall. Johnson was a healthy scratch in the playoffs, and lost his job to Ian Cole, who, you may remember, used to play for the Penguins.
Johnson has been a minus player the majority of his career, even when he was on some very defensive-minded Los Angeles Kings teams. He might be a decent asset for the Penguins on the power play, but what else is there? Pittsburgh fans have actually had the chance to see Johnson play regularly, given their battles with the Blue Jackets, and maybe someone can clue me in, but he certainly never jumped off the screen as an impact player.
While I don’t like the length of the deal, I’m not as hung up on it as others are. By the end of it, the Crosby/Malkin window will be more or less completely shut, and the Penguins will be on their way to a rebuild. Heck, the NHL might have another lockout before the deal is done.
No, I’m more worried about the first few years, the ones where Johnson is supposed to be a valuable contributor on a team competing for the Cup.
Maybe I’m just missing something altogether, and maybe he’ll make me look foolish, and Rutherford a genius yet again, but Johnson joining the Penguins seems like cause for skepticism, not celebration.
Chris Mueller hosts a weekday sports talk show on 93.7 The Fan.