The Penguins learned something from the Jack Johnson experience.
That may be an odd thing to say, given that as former Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford bought out Johnson’s five-year, $16.25 million contract with one hand, he was simultaneously using to the other to agree to an equally burdensome deal. He signed Panthers defenseman Mike Matheson to a six-year, $29.25 million contract in a move that decreased the Penguins’ available cap space.
But even if no lessons were learnt by Rutherford, the same cannot be said for the Penguins’ coaching staff.
Ceci debuted on the third pairing and eventually ended up on the second when injuries opened spots higher in the lineup.