An unexpected statement was just issued by Jim Montgomery regarding Tyler Johnson

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Joshua Deeds
November 3, 2024 (12:49)

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The Boston Bruins signed former Stanley Cup Champion, Tyler Johnson to a PTO on September 1st, 2024.

Since then there's been speculation whether he'll ever see the ice again. Despite the Bruins' troubles, Johnson hasn't been able to be used as a solution.

On Saturday, General Manager Don Sweeney revealed that the Boston Bruins have signed free agent forward Tyler Johnson to a Professional Try Out agreement (PTO). Johnson recently completed a seven-year contract worth $35 million he signed in 2017 with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Instead, he hasn't found a way into the lineup, even with a weak Bruins offense, which is puzzling.

And Bruins GM Don Sweeney hasn't offered him a contract either, as they have $1.27 Million in cap space. He could at least offer Johnson a one-year deal.

Since late September there's been a debate about whether they should sign him or not, and right now it seems as if they should.

Johnson has a right to be antsy or angsty considering the Bruins have done terribly.

It doesn't make sense if your top producers aren't producing, and you don't have offensive depth, why not? It's bad asset management from the front office, and from the bench.

Johnson also showed this past season that he can still provide solid secondary scoring. In 67 games this past campaign with the Chicago Blackhawks, he had 17 goals and 31 points. In addition, during the 2022-23 season with Chicago, he had 12 goals and 32 points in 56 games.

The Bruins can use someone like Johnson in the lineup, which may mean an experiment may have to end, including the possibility of demoting Morgan Geekie, or Charlie Coyle in order to get him into the lineup.

Johnson decided to walk away from the Blackhawks in order to pursue a contract with a Stanley Cup contender.

Is Jim Montgomery seriously holding out someone with a competitive instinct?

There's no excuse for him to sit on the sidelines.