Lombardi Rips Michigan

A few years ago Islanders GM Garth Snow tore into Minnesota and coach Don Lucia. Now, it’s LA Kings GM Dean Lombardi’s turn. Lombardi said that because Michigan coach Red Berenson gets “all the best players” he never does any coaching, and as a result player’s development is stunted. Lombardi said that he wasn’t criticizing Johnson, but the program, by saying things such as:

"At times, he was playing forward at Michigan. You had no idea what position he was playing. But he had always been the star and he always got his numbers. Then he turns pro and for the first time, we’re telling him ‘whoa, just make the first pass and learn to play in your own end.’ How about making a read in your own end about the right guy to pick up? He was awful."

Johnson responded to Lombardi’s remarks, saying “(Berenson) is one of the finest coaches and men that I’ve met. For my general manager to rip me as a person and criticize me as a person and as a player and call me an awful hockey player is irresponsible and unprofessional.”

Perhaps lost on Lombardi is that Michigan has produced more NHL players than any other school.

Johnson has 9 goals and 22 points in his 3 year NHL career. He will represent the US Olympic team in February.

edit: So uh, I apparently didn’t include my source here. Thanks to an alert reader for pointing that out. You can find the original story at CHN