Penguins Update: Is Johnsson the New Simon?

Other Rick beware. There’s a player lurking on the Penguins’ current roster who could fill the role of one of your old “favorites.”

During his four seasons and change with our Pens, forward Dominik Simon was valued by coach Mike Sullivan and teammates alike (if not the fan base) for his play-driving abilities. Although Simon’s boxcar numbers were never very impressive (only 22 goals and 73 points in 228 games for the black and gold) his underlying metrics were. Particularly his Corsi and expected goals for percentage (xG%).

After being swapped to the Ducks in the Rickard Rakell deal at the 2022 trade deadline, the 29-year-old forward returned to his native Czechia last season to play for Sparta Praha. Which, depending on your perspective, is really great news or bad news.

The player I alluded to earlier? Free-agent pick-up Andreas Johnsson.

An obscure seventh-round pick of the Maple Leafs back in 2013, Johnsson starred for three seasons in his native Sweden for Frolunda HC before making his way across the pond to test the pro waters.

A productive two-year apprenticeship with the Toronto Marlies in the AHL earned the 5’10” 195-pounder a promotion to the Leafs in the spring of ’18. Making the most of his opportunity, Johnsson burst onto the scene the following season, tallying 20 goals and 43 points to finish eighth in the voting for the Calder Trophy among an elite crop of rookies.

As for those underlying numbers? While his 5v5 xG% was a shade under average (49.96), his actual goals for percentage (GF%) was a stellar 61.18, as was his Corsi of 53.85.

Then the odyssey began. A knee injury combined with the Covid shortened schedule to take a bite out of his sophomore season, which saw his numbers tumble to eight goals and 21 points in 43 games. Still, roughly a 15-goal, 40-point pace for a full season. Despite his woes, his underlying numbers remained strong (53.13 Corsi, 52.08 GF%, 51.42 xG%).

In October 2020, then-Leafs GM Kyle Dubas dealt Johnsson to New Jersey for prospect Joey Anderson. Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald was upbeat about his new acquisition.

“We feel with Andreas, he can be that complementary player to one of Jack (Hughes) or Nico (Hischier),” Fitzgerald noted. “Andreas is a hard-working, competitive forward who can slot up and down the lineup. The overall versatility of his game will be a great complement to our centermen, with his skating, quickness, and scoring touch.”

High praise, indeed.

With the bar set high, the newcomer struggled in his first season in Newark. Johnsson managed a paltry (and Simon-like) five goals and 11 points in 50 games. Remarkably, his advanced stats were once again solid (53.46 Corsi, 52.11 xG%). Which meant that, despite the lack of production, he was still driving the play. Again, Simon-esque.

Placed on a line with up-and-comers Jesper Bratt and Dawson Mercer by coach Lindy Ruff to open the ‘21-22 campaign, Johnsson exploded from the starting gate at a near point-per-game clip. In his first 20 games, the native of Gavle, Sweden, popped nine goals and 18 points, including three two-goal games and a monster four-point, plus-five night against Philly on November 28. Then he cooled, dramatically so, registering just 17 points over his final 51 games. Per his custom, Johnsson’s underlying metrics stayed positive (53.06 GF%, 51.06 xG%).

An overlooked stat? Johnsson finished a plus-four on a team loaded with heavy minuses, a nod to his solid all-around play. Too, despite his slump he finished five points ahead of teammate Tomáš Tatar, a player frequently linked to the Pens this summer.

Still, the wheels fell off the wagon for Johnsson early last season. Following a nondescript training camp, he cleared waivers and spent a good chunk of the season skating for Utica of the AHL, notching nine goals and 30 points in 36 games.

On February 26, he was shipped to San Jose as part of the blockbuster Timo Meier trade. Skating in 11 largely forgettable games with the Sharks, Andreas produced just three assists to go with a minus-six.

That’s when Dubas tossed Johnsson a life-line and signed him to a one-year deal for $800 K. Given the player’s history, a low-risk and perhaps shrewd and even high-reward move on the part of our POHO/GM.

At age 29, can the man they call “Mango” (shades of former Pen Michel Ouellet) resurrect his career in the ‘burgh? Similar to Simon, he’s shown the ability to compliment and even thrive with highly skilled linemates. There’s going to be a top-six opening for at least a handful of games while Jake Guentzel recovers from ankle surgery. With his speed, versatility (the ability to play either wing) and play-driving bent, could Johnsson be a candidate to fill that slot, at least on a temporary basis?

Stay tuned.