Blue Jackets' Kent Johnson: Stays warm with helper
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Johnson logged a power-play assist in Thursday's 2-1 overtime loss to the Capitals.
Johnson has five points over his last three games, though his helper Thursday was his first power-play point since Nov. 23 versus the Hurricanes. He's bounced back well from a brief slump earlier in December. The 22-year-old forward is logging top-line minutes and time on the first power-play unit. He has nine goals, eight assists, 33 shots on net and a plus-2 rating through 15 appearances, which is already better production than his 16-point effort over 42 outings in an injury-shortened 2023-24.
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Blue Jackets' Kent Johnson: Taking next step in game
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Johnson had a goal and an assist in a 5-3 loss to the Flyers on Tuesday.
Johnson has four points (three goals, one assist) across his past two games. The fifth overall pick (2021) appears to be taking the next step in his game. He has nine goals, seven assists and 32 shots in just 14 outings this season, and he's on pace to establish new career marks in all offensive categories. Continue to watch Johnson's 28.1 shooting percentage, which has nowhere to go but down. Still, he's a talented young forward with lots of fantasy promise.
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Blue Jackets' Kent Johnson: Finds twine twice Sunday
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Johnson scored two goals and took four shots in Sunday's 4-1 win over the Jets.
Johnson missed 14 games between Oct. 19 and Nov. 18 due to a shoulder injury, but the right winger has been playing at a high level when available. This two-goal performance snapped a three-game drought, but that stretch was the first time he couldn't crack the scoresheet all season long. Through 13 games, the 22-year-old is up to eight goals and six assists, and he's on pace to deliver career-best numbers as long as he remains healthy.
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Blue Jackets' Kent Johnson: Scores again Sunday
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Johnson scored a goal on five shots in Sunday's 6-3 win over the Blackhawks.
Johnson still has yet to be held off the scoresheet over his nine appearances this season. He has four goals and three assists over five contests since he returned from a shoulder injury, and he's slotted right into a top-six role with power-play time while also seeing work on the penalty kill. The 22-year-old has a total of six goals, 12 points, 19 shots on net and a plus-1 rating.
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Blue Jackets' Kent Johnson: Point in every game played so far
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Johnson scored a goal Friday in a 5-2 win over Calgary.
He went down the right wing, faked a pass across and then wired it inside the far post. Johnson has six points (three goals, three assists) in his past four games, and he has at least a point (five goals, six assists) in all eight games he has played. He missed 14 games with a shoulder injury. Check your wire -- some managers may still be sleeping on Johnson.
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Blue Jackets' Kent Johnson: Stays warm with helper in loss
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Johnson logged an assist and two shots on goal in Wednesday's 4-3 loss to the Canadiens.
Johnson is up to five points over three games since he returned from a shoulder injury. The 22-year-old forward has four goals, six assists, 13 shots on net and a minus-1 rating over seven contests this season. He's yet to be held off the scoresheet, and he figures to be a key part of the Blue Jackets' top six as long as his offense stays hot.
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Blue Jackets' Kent Johnson: Two assists in shootout win
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Johnson provided two assists, added two PIM and went plus-2 in Saturday's 5-4 shootout win over the Hurricanes.
Johnson's first helper was on a Dmitri Voronkov power-play tally, and he also assisted on Kirill Marchenko's game-tying goal in the third period. With two goals and two assists over two contests since his return from a shoulder injury, Johnson is locked in. What's better is that he's seeing time in all situations. The 22-year-old is up to nine points (four on the power play, two shorthanded), 10 shots on net and a minus-1 rating through six appearances. He's got the skill to take the Blue Jackets' offense to the next level.
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Blue Jackets' Kent Johnson: Offensive outburst in return
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Johnson (shoulder) scored twice Thursday in a 7-6 overtime win over the Lightning. One of the goals came on the power play and the other came shorthanded.
Johnson became the eighth player in Blue Jackets history to score a short-handed and a power-play goal in the same game. He had missed 14 games with his shoulder injury. Johnson is a smart pick-up off the wire, as he has immense talent, and the Blue Jackets are playing well in their last four games. They have three wins and have scored 18 goals in those victories. Anyone with skill who rides shotgun with Adam Fantilli is an important fantasy option.
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Blue Jackets' Kent Johnson: Activated from injured reserve
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The Blue Jackets activated Johnson (shoulder) from injured reserve Thursday.
Johnson was off to a great start with two goals and three assists in his first four games before a shoulder injury knocked him out of the lineup, forcing him to miss 14 games. Johnson, who was selected fifth overall in 2021, is expected to play alongside Adam Fantilli and James van Riemsdyk on the second line Thursday when Columbus hosts Tampa Bay. He should also see power-play time on the second unit as he is eased back into the lineup.
Blue Jackets' Kent Johnson: Likely available for Thursday
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Johnson is likely to return for Thursday's game against Tampa Bay, per Aaron Portzline of The Athletic.
Johnson practiced alongside Adam Fantilli and James van Riemsdyk on Wednesday, so those are his projected linemates if he does play Thursday. The 22-year-old Johnson hasn't been in the lineup since Oct. 17 against the Sabres. He was red hot before the injury, starting the campaign with two goals and five points across four appearances.
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Blue Jackets' Kent Johnson: Nearing return
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According to Jeff Svoboda of the Blue Jackets' official site, Johnson (shoulder) won't play Monday versus Boston, but he is getting close to returning to the lineup.
Johnson will miss his 14th straight game after suffering a shoulder injury against Buffalo on Oct. 17. He started the 2024-25 campaign with two goals, five points and eight shots on net in four appearances. Once healthy, Johnson could slot into a top-six role and see power-play time, making him an intriguing fantasy option.
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Blue Jackets' Kent Johnson: At practice Thursday
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Johnson (shoulder) is practicing Thursday for the first time since he was injured Oct. 17, per Aaron Portzline of The Athletic.
Johnson was off to a fast start with two goals and five points in four games before he was hurt. The 22-year-old was selected fifth overall in 2021 and had a tough 2023-24 campaign in which he had six goals and 16 points in only 42 regular-season games. He also spent time at AHL Cleveland last season -- recording five goals and 10 assists in 10 appearances -- after playing 79 regular-season games as a 19-year-old with the Blue Jackets. Look for Johnson to have a top-six role upon his return.
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Blue Jackets' Kent Johnson: Moves to IR
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Johnson (shoulder) was placed on injured reserve Sunday, per the NHL media site.
Johnson hasn't played since Oct. 17, and his return to the lineup isn't imminent. The move to IR will open a potential roster spot for Columbus. The 22-year-old forward has two goals, three assists and eight shots on net through four appearances this season.
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Blue Jackets' Kent Johnson: Skating Monday
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Johnson (shoulder) skated after Columbus' main practice Monday, Jeff Svoboda of the Blue Jackets' official site reports.
Johnson is not expected back until late November due to his long-term shoulder injury, but it certainly could have been longer had he required surgery. While it's a step in the right direction, fantasy managers probably shouldn't get too excited about the imminent return of the 22-year-old center until he takes contact in a full practice.
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Blue Jackets' Kent Johnson: Surgery not needed
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Per Aaron Portzline of The Athletic, Johnson will not require surgery on his left shoulder, general manager Don Waddell said Friday.
Johnson was injured Oct. 17 versus the Sabres. The Blue Jackets' medical staff thinks that the injury can be treated with rehab but that Johnson will be out indefinitely. Johnson was off to a hot start with two goals and five points in four games, showing why he was selected fifth overall in the 2021 Draft.
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Blue Jackets' Kent Johnson: Not a short-term injury
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Per Aaron Portzline of The Athletic, Johnson (upper body) will not be out "short term," according to coach Dean Evason.
After an injury-shortened 2023-24 in which the 21-year-old forward had six goals and 10 assists in 42 regular-season appearances, Johnson started the 2024-25 campaign with a bang, scoring twice and adding three assists in four games. Johnson's absence will sting because the Columbus lineup has already been depleted by injuries this season.
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Blue Jackets' Kent Johnson: Outlook not good
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Johnson's upper-body injury looks like it will cost him time, but the Blue Jackets will know more on the 21-year-old's status Friday, Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reports.
Head coach Dean Evason had a similar reaction to Johnson's injury as the one Erik Gudbranson (upper body) suffered earlier in the week, which landed the defenseman on injured reserve. Johnson was off to a great start with five points in four appearances this season, but it looks like his potential breakout campaign will be paused. Kevin Labanc would likely draw back into the lineup if Johnson is officially ruled out for Saturday's game versus the Wild.
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Blue Jackets' Kent Johnson: Exits game due to upper-body injury
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Johnson left Thursday's game against Buffalo due to an upper-body injury and won't return.
Johnson registered an assist in 6:26 of ice time before exiting the contest. The Blue Jackets' next game is Saturday against Minnesota. If Johnson isn't available for that clash, then Kevin Labanc might draw into the lineup.
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Blue Jackets' Kent Johnson: Tallies in consecutive games
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Johnson scored a goal on two shots in Saturday's 6-4 win over the Avalanche.
Johnson stretched the Blue Jackets' lead to 2-0 in the first period. The 21-year-old has two goals, one assist and six shots on net over the first two games of the year. More impressively, he led all Columbus forwards with 21:30 of ice time despite beginning the game in a third-line role. He's poised for a breakout campaign after being limited to 16 points in 42 contests in 2023-24. He had a 40-point rookie year in 2022-23, and if he finds his way into a top-six role, he'll have a good chance of pushing past that mark.
