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.