The former 2021 top-five overall pick made his NHL debut late in the 2021-22 season, where he recorded three assists in nine games.
In 2022-23, Johnson became just the third Blue Jackets rookie to score at least 40 points in a season, joining Pierre-Luc Dubois (48, 2017-18) and Zach Werenski (47, 2016-17). Overall, Johnson had 16 goals and 24 assists in 79 games and it looked like the youngster was starting to prove himself.
Last season, under first-year coach Pascal Vincent, Johnson’s season got off to a rocky start when he was left out of the season opener against the Philadelphia Flyers.
He had an assist in his season opener against the New York Rangers, but had just three points (one goal, two assists) in October. He was benched after playing just 8:45 against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Nov. 2 and was sent to the Cleveland Monsters to regain his confidence and get his game back.
After scoring 15 points (five goals, 10 assists) in 10 games for Cleveland, Johnson returned to the NHL on Dec. 1 against the Ottawa Senators.
The offense began to find him in the following games, as he recorded his first three-point game and a two-goal game against the Toronto Maple Leafs. He had three multi-point games in six games from December 7-19, but finished with just 16 points (six goals, 10 assists) in 42 games, his season ended prematurely by a torn labrum at Madison Square Garden on February 28 against the Rangers.
Johnson’s contract?
Johnson is one of three Blue Jackets restricted free agents who remain unsigned. Unlike Marchenko, neither Johnson nor Cole Sillinger are eligible for arbitration. Johnson is a 10.2(C) player and here’s a reminder of what that means from a previous article article on the subject.
A player becomes a free agent when his contract expires on July 1 after the final league year of his contract. A player who does not meet the UFA or Group 2 RFA requirements displayed in the chart above and who has received a qualifying offer is designated a 10.2(c) player. The player is only eligible to negotiate and sign a contract with the club that holds his signing rights. He is not eligible to negotiate a contract (offer sheet) with another club. He is also not eligible for arbitration. If the player does not receive a qualifying offer by June 25 at 5:00 p.m. ET, he immediately becomes a UFA.
According to Athleticism Aaron Portzline, President and General Manager Don Waddell discuss contracts with Sillinger and Johnson’s agents.
Earlier this summer, our Dan Dukart raised the possibility of a bridge contact for Johnson.
Ready for training camp?
Johnson had surgery for a torn labrum in early March and the expected recovery time at that time was six months, putting him right at the start of Blue Jackets training camp.
Whether or not Johnson is ready to play on the first day of camp, and assuming there are no setbacks, Columbus could opt to do so gradually. Either way, Johnson should be good as new for the team’s first game at the Minnesota Wild on Oct. 10.
The torn labrum has unfortunately been a common injury for the Blue Jackets over the past few seasons, as Gus Nyquist, Zach Werenski and Justin Danforth have all dealt with it.
Assuming he’s healthy, what can we expect from Johnson two seasons after a 40-point campaign?
Can Johnson resolidify?
After a tough year on the ice and now rehabbing an injury, it seems some might I’m already looking to turn the page on Johnson. He won’t even turn 22 until Oct. 18 and could still be one of the top five talents the Blue Jackets drafted and saw potential in in 2022-23.
It will be interesting to see how he performs under his third NHL head coach and what teammates he might have.
Blue Jackets Insider Jeff Svoboda projected what the lines could look like this season, placing Johnson on third with Sillinger and Dmitri Voronkov.
As of now, the top six could be determined by considering a potential first line of Johnny Gaudreau-Sean Monahan-Yegor Chinakhov, and a second line of Boone Jenner-Adam Fantilli-Kirill Marchenko. You can probably swap some of those names around in the top six, but Johnson may have to earn his spot in that group.
