The New York Rangers reportedly placed much-maligned former Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Jack Johnson on waivers on Sunday.
NHL Network insider Elliotte Friedman first reported the move.
Johnson signed a one-year, $1.15 million deal with the Rangers just days after the Penguins bought out his contract. The Penguins put Johnson on waivers on Oct. 5, 2020, so they could buy out the final three years of his deal.
The Penguins signed Johnson to a five-year, $16.25 million contract on July 1, 2018.
According to CapFriendly, the Penguins’ salary cap hit for Johnson is $1,166,667 this season and next, $1,916,667 in 2022-23 and then $916,667 for the three seasons after that.
In 13 games this season, Johnson has just one goal — March 9 against the Penguins.
Johnson’s average time on ice has dropped to a career low 16:58 this season. Johnson averaged more than 20 minutes a game from 2007-08, when he became a regular for the Los Angeles Kings, through the 2016-17 season with the Columbus Blue Jackets. In his final season with Columbus, he averaged 19:33 and then 19:17 and 19:28 in his two seasons in Pittsburgh.
If Johnson goes unclaimed, he could be assigned to the Rangers’ taxi squad.
