(1) The LA Times Article: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/sports_blog/2010/01/dean-lombardi-jack-johnson-kings-michigan-hockey-.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+LAT_Sports_Blog+%28The+Fabulous+Forum%29
(2) The Frozen Royalty Interview With Dean Lombardi: http://frozenroyalty.net/2010/01/20/dean-lombardi-jack-johnson-is-learning-his-craft-belatedly/
The most important line from the LA Times article: "A spokesman for the Kings said Lombardi's quotes in the interview were accurate."
When I was younger, I didn't understand the gravity of what Deano did for the Sharks. I associated him with Al Sims and Jim Wiley. More accurately, I should have thought of Owen Nolan, Igor, Kevin Constantine, et al. To be fair, he did give away Chris Pronger but thats neither here nor there. Now that I am older, I have grown to appreciate Deano as a GM and I think he has done a good job in LA. He made a big mistake in hiring Marc Crawford and that probably delayed his development of the team, which to LA fans has taken too long, but he has done a good job of building a solid organization down there. And then he unleashed his armada of truth bombs. I don't know if he was drunk when he said this or if he was pissed off, or if he has a particular bone to pick with U Mich, or what, but his quotes are pretty roasty.
It would appear that the writers at Frozen Royalty agree with what Deano said and it would appear that most, if not all, of what Deano said is true.
This story will continue to develop. For the Kings, they better hope that they can resolve this. Typically, this sort of criticism is only resolved when the player shows that he is an adult and can accept criticism of his past and move on. Jack Johnson has never shown that ability and has been run out of town by a pair of teams despite his status as a top-three draft pick.
To be fair, Deano says a lot of positive stuff about the guy at the end of the article, talking about how proud he was of Jack for having the other GM's talking about how improved he was on the ice. I hope Jack Johnson reads the entire article first before going crazy about it.
Oh, what's that? Too Late?: [From the LA Times]
"I'm a Michigan man. I'm very proud of it. I wouldn't want to have it any other way," Johnson said after the Kings' 4-3 shootout victory over the Buffalo Sabres at Staples Center.
"Michigan has produced more NHL players than any other school. Even the U.S. development program, people rip that and they just don't know anything about it and don't know what they're talking about."
Berenson, Johnson said, "is one of the finest coaches and men that I've met. For my general manager to rip me as a person and criticize me as a person and as a player and call me an awful hockey player is irresponsible and unprofessional."
Sounds like these dudes need to sit down. If I'm the Kings, start thinking about whether you can ditch JJ in that heralded trade for Kovy. I haven't spent a single second thinking about that trade so I have zero idea if they'd want to do that. Deano's past indicates he has no problem pulling the trigger on a big trade (see: Nolan trade, Selanne trade).Some of Deano's tidbits:
Deano On U Mich's Coaching Jack Johnson: “This guy has never had any coaching [at the University of Michigan],” Lombardi said. “Jack just did what he wanted.”
“Michigan is the worst.” Lombardi added. “For hockey people, if you’ve got a choice between a kid—all things being equal—one’s going to Michigan and one’s going to Boston University, you all want your player [going to Boston University]. Michigan’s players—[head coach] Red [Berenson] doesn’t coach. It’s ‘do what you want.’ He gets the best players in the country.”
Deano On Jack Johnson's Play Out of College: "“Jack was a thoroughbred out there,” Lombardi explained. “But he was all over the place. He was awful as a hockey player. As an athlete, you’re going, wow! Look at the way he skates, shoots, he can pass. But he had no idea where he was going.”
“At times, he was playing forward at Michigan,” Lombardi elaborated. “You had no idea what position he was playing. But he had always been the star and he always got his numbers. Then he turns pro and for the first time, we’re telling him ‘whoa, just make the first pass and learn to play in your own end.’ How about making a read in your own end about the right guy to pick up? He was awful.”
yikes.
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