Nobody is going to claim Johnson.

No one claimed TJ the first time so what’s changed?

Everybody thought the lightning would have to pay to get rid of him

If your Detroit by now you know what the teams are going to look like at the start of the season at the time that Johnson went on Waivers last time no one knew how TB was gonna get out of the cap crater they were in. They managed with Kuch going on LTIR and Ott trade. If your Detroit and have nothing but cash and aren't going to be competing for a while why wouldn't you claim Johnson and flip him for a high pick after you retain half his salary..

It's not about absorbing his 5M AAV it's about what you can do after the fact.

He's not on a one year deal though. Do they really want to retain 2.5 for 4 years?

He's got alot of life in him yet and isn't that old.

Johnson is on a 4 year deal with mediocre play. Tampa is way above the cap next season. If a team claims Johnson, leverage on other players (including what they had on Johnson) goes down. Why would you acquire Johnson? When at minimum, his negative value is worth a 1st round.

Even if you claim johnson you're gonna have to hope he has a good season and then still eat 2 million a season to flip him. I'm not sure its worth the risk.

I love the idea Detroit does this however Yzermann isn’t going to bail the Lightning out of Cap Hell next year without some sweetener

Still might have too but not for compliance this year depending on when Kuch comes back. I could see them still paying Seattle to take him also.

I agree but that’ll be a bit less expensive then. I figure a 3&5 and Taylor Raddysh he’s at least a hometown Cup champ helping build the team. Possibly a B2b cup champ
He had the surgery 12/29 it’s the same surgery Point and Cirelli who had a recovery time of 14$16 weeks respectively. Same surgery same surgeon. puts him back fist week of may