Before I begin, a disclaimer. I'm a KJ fan with strong belief in his upside. So, while I am trying to be balanced and realistic about him, I know that my opinion will be colored.
Let's be honest, expectations for Kent Johnson have been quite high. That comes with being picked high in the first round of the draft. And despite his being somewhat undersized, KJ was a high draft pick. To this point, he has not lived up to the expectations.
KJ does have the tools. His play away from the puck and defensively have been improving. But the offense hasn't been there and quite streaky. I propose that it isn't lack of skill or problems with his development that is the problem, but mental. There is no way that KJ has not been aware of the expectations laid upon him by his high draft position. Whether or not he is consciously aware of it, those expectations weigh on his mind and he's been trying too hard to live up to them. If KJ deals with this concern, he'll begin rising to the level expected of him.
But there's another angle on this. The Jackets are certainly feeling the pressure of us fans wanting the team to be in the playoffs, again. And, as the cliche goes, you have to give to get. In a year where quality UFA's are scarce, that means trading for pieces. (I don't buy the rumor that Waddell intends to chase Anthony Manta.) And you can bet your bottom dollar that other GMs are both very aware of KJ's potential and his struggles to meet that potential. Add in that history has shown that, by taking a high first round pick away from the team that drafted him, there is a very good chance that his development advances dramatically.
While I would much prefer patience with KJ's development, I have to recognize that, probably bundled with another asset, he could bring a player who would bring immediate help. So, Waddell, IMO, shouldn't actively shop Kent Johnson, but he must listen to offers for him and try to negotiate a mutually beneficial trade.
I've pretty much worked out an updated trade list and will offer that this weekend.
