Should Chad Johnson be given the starters role?

[Reggie Dunlop]

Chad Johnson is on his sixth NHL organization. In every respect a journeyman goalie.

There's a reason he was offered a one-year contract.

He's having a hot streak, which is obviously fortuitous. Play him until he loses. He deserves it.

I'd like to be proven wrong, and have him turn into a Tim Thomas-like late bloomer.

But play it by ear for now.

[The Fonz]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

Chad Johnson is on his sixth NHL organization. In every respect a journeyman goalie.

There's a reason he was offered a one-year contract.

He's having a hot streak, which is obviously fortuitous. Play him until he loses. He deserves it.

I'd like to be proven wrong, and have him turn into a Tim Thomas-like late bloomer.

But play it by ear for now.

You're probably right, but I only just looked for the 1st time tonight at his career stats, and was pretty shocked.

57-33-12
2.35 GAA
.918 SV%

And, more recently, last year on a poor Buffalo team:

22-16-4
2.36 GAA
.920 SV%

I'm a bit ashamed that I wasn't more aware of who Chad Johnson was prior to him signing here.

[dissentowner]

I think Johnson is the next Dubnyk. He has all the tools to be a top end goalie.

[calgaryblood]

Johnson is so calm in net. Not comparing the style but the calmness reminds me of Carey Price. He is calm and in position always.

[squiggs96]

Why does this need to be defined? Can't Gulutzan just play whichever goalie is playing well? Right now it is Johnson, so he gets to play a lot. Elliott will likely get the Monday game against NYI. If Johnson does well on Sunday, he can start on Wednesday at home against Toronto, since he's done well. If he falters on Sunday, and Elliott has a great game Monday, then give Elliott the start on Wednesday. Play the hot goalie. Right now, it's Johnson. That might change over the course of the year.

[bc-chris]

he's a goalie who is play great and winning - therefore you do not change a thing!

...not that we're superstitious or anything like that

[tvp2003]

Without Johnson, there's a very good chance we're sitting 1-3 on this road trip instead of 3-1. His play cannot be understated -- he's been terrific.

Which sucks if you're Brian Elliott, who finally got a chance to be the clearcut #1, in a contract year no less. He hasn't been terrible lately, but I'm wondering if the added pressure has contributed to his slow start.

We'll ultimately need both guys over 82 games, unless Johnson can manage to keep this up for the rest of the season (in which case you can put him on the Vezina shortlist).

[spennywalks]

Johnson posted a very impressive record with a good bruins team at 17-4-1. Last year was the first time in his career he has been given the chance to roll with the net for an extended period of time and since November 1st 2015 he has the second best sv % in the NHL and at 30 years old he isnt that old for a Goalie. I would like to see him given a little bit of leash as i really think there is a chance we have found a hidden gem. The same argument that people say about elliot (playing behind a great team) does not apply to Johnson. Johnson is so calm in the net he almost reminds me of price in that respect and hes played so well this year he deserves some time to show what he can really do

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

I think Johnson is the next Dubnyk. He has all the tools to be a top end goalie.

That's exactly the comparison I was I thinking of watching him.

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by spennywalks

Johnson posted a very impressive record with a good bruins team at 17-4-1. Last year was the first time in his career he has been given the chance to roll with the net for an extended period of time and since November 1st 2015 he has the second best sv % in the NHL and at 30 years old he isnt that old for a Goalie. I would like to see him given a little bit of leash as i really think there is a chance we have found a hidden gem. The same argument that people say about elliot (playing behind a great team) does not apply to Johnson. Johnson is so calm in the net he almost reminds me of price in that respect and hes played so well this year he deserves some time to show what he can really do

Going to be honest, the winning record behind a mid-rebuild Sabres team impressed me more than Elliott's career stats, given that prior to the Blues, Moose had mediocre numbers behind worse/different teams.

[Racki]

Our goaltending has been so absolutely awful that if we even get an above average performance out of one of our goalies that it gets spun like the goalie stole the game. I don't think it's fair that some (media and fans) are dismissing our wins because we get good/great performances from our goalie. A lot of teams in the NHL expect their goalies to give them a chance to win almost every night.

[Matty81]

Last couple games have been a bit crazy but I don't think Johnson's season overall is an anomaly, his NHL save percentage has been consistently good with one outlier season:
9/10 (5 games) .919
10/11 (.818 played only one period)
12/13 (4 games) .954
13/14 (27 games) .925
14/15 (19 games ) .889
15/16 (45 games) .920

Granted some pretty small sample sizes but he seems to be trending out as a goalie with about a .920 save percentage, I think his .928 right now is a bit high but I don't think it's a huge reach to say he can keep up a good standard of play. He's still youngish for a goalie, most just come into their prime in their late 20s and unlike Elliott he put up those numbers last year playing for a really bad team where he faced a lot of high quality chances.

[bucksmasher]

[Strange Brew]

Per the thread title, I would not give him anything but he has definitely earned the right to a little rope and not just play until he loses.

[Coach]

No one should be "given" anything. The best players play. Right now Johnson is the best player, so he plays. Right now.

[EVERLAST]

The Chad needs a bill of the starts IMO

He's been a velcro goalie and his rebound control has only cost him when we had 3 players not play they're man in front which cost a goal last night.

He's got ice water in his veins like KIPPER and I love that he's here after watching some abysmal goalies since Kipper retired.

Not disrespectful of Elliot but Chad needs to get us comfortably over .500 before we operate as a tandem again and Glue gun better see it this way too or no playoffs

[Dion]

Always earned and never given should be the philosophy going forward.

[calgaryblood]

Not that it already hasn't been confirmed with the way Johnson has been playing but Burke said today during an interview that Johnson is the number one goalie and it's well deserved.

[DeluxeMoustache]

I like Johnson's play of late a lot

Elliott has not been as bad this year as his stats indicate. He has made some great saves and has also many times been hung out to dry.

I really liked his game against the Isles. It was a 1 goal tie in regulation and the OT winner was not on him. Just the timing of that loss was unfortunate.

I am actually very comfortable with the goaltending tandem this year.

Having said that, until Johnson gives a reason, he has absolutely earned the benefit of the doubt, and the starter's crease.

I put Elliott's perceived question marks on the team at the time they were giving him the starts, but can't give him the bulk of the starts until Johnson falters. Elliott has been unfortunate, with a few exceptions, but Johnson has been lights out. You can't argue with 3 shutouts in 8 games.

[jeffman]

Imagine if chad Johnson was on last years team. Then again we probably wouldn't have had tkachuk...