Columbus Blue Jackets Should Start Dean Kukan, not Jack Johnson
The Columbus Blue Jackets are making a mistake by starting Jack Johnson in place of Markus Nutivaara.
The Columbus Blue Jackets are going to be without the services of Markus Nutivaara for at least one game. The injury he sustained against Vancouver on Saturday afternoon have him “day-to-day” for the time being according to John Tortorella.
The injury comes at a bad time for Nuti who was playing the best hockey of his NHL career. He had scored five points in the seven games before his injury. Teamed with Ryan Murray, the duo were playing like top four defenseman and were a big reason for the Jackets turnaround.
But with the young Finn sidelined the Columbus Blue Jackets have elected to replace Nuti with Jack Johnson. And what a mistake this is. Johnson’s struggles have been well documented this season. He frankly hasn’t been playing at an NHL level and certainly not at a level you need heading into the playoffs.
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But Johnson is loved by Tortorella and there are thoughts that his suffocating style of play will be needed in the playoffs. Only problem is that he can’t even keep up anymore and isn’t suffocating anyone but the Blue Jackets.
The most frustrating part of this terrible decision is that they have a capable, young defenseman that plays a similar style to Nutivaara that they could slide in his place. Dean Kukan would be the perfect replacement until Nuti returns.
In just 10 games with the Columbus Blue Jackets this season, Kukan has showed his ability to move the puck out of the zone and defend in his own end. He has produced offensively as well, racking up four assist. Kukan can keep up with Murray and compliment his style of play.
The Jackets just gave Kukan an extension as well so there is no reason to not give him some more NHL ice time. Jack Johnson won’t be with this team next season and shouldn’t play in the playoffs so why put him out on the ice?
There are two trains of thought that could lead to Jack playing over Kukan. Both of which are fundamentally flawed. One, is that they want Jack Johnson to play in the playoffs over Markus Nutivaara. Which is a massive error. Not only can Jack not keep up and play at a top level anymore, he will drag down Ryan Murray.
The second is that Kukan can’t be trusted to play in big games down the stretch and in the playoffs, which I don’t believe the team thinks. They played Gabriel Carlsson in the playoffs last season after having absolutely zero NHL experience. The team has no problem playing young defenseman.
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Starting Jack is a mistake that gets the Jackets nothing long term or short term. Unless Jack Johnson miraculously plays like he did in 2016-2017, which he has shown no signs of all season, than this will be a colossal error. Starting Dean Kukan is the right call and the obvious call.