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 the injury. Johnson is a smart pick-up off the wire. Johnson 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.
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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: 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: Scores, assists in loss to Wild
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Johnson notched a goal and a power-play assist in Thursday's 3-2 loss to the Wild.
Johnson was the Blue Jackets' best player in this game and was directly involved in the team's two goals, slotting a wrist shot past Filip Gustavsson in the early stages of the second period and then setting up Zach Werenski's power-play goal in the third. Johnson notched 16 points in 42 contests during the 2023-24 campaign, and it wouldn't be surprising to see the 21-year-old forward surpass that tally in 2024-25 as long as he remains healthy.
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Blue Jackets' Kent Johnson: Bags goal in Friday loss
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Johnson scored an unassisted goal on three shots in Friday's 7-3 preseason loss to the Penguins
Johnson's goal in the second period halted a red-hot Pittsburgh offense that had scored five unanswered goals, erasing a strong start from the Blue Jackets. Johnson has looked healthy in the preseason after undergoing shoulder surgery in March. The 21-year-old forward will likely see plenty of ice time in the top six and power play in 2024-25. He notched 16 points in 42 contests during the 2023-24 campaign before the shoulder injury ended his year prematurely.
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Blue Jackets' Kent Johnson: Good to go ahead of 2024-25
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Johnson is fully healthy after undergoing shoulder surgery in March, per Jeff Svoboda of the Blue Jackets' official site
Johnson will be ready for the start of training camp after recovering from shoulder surgery. The fifth overall selection of the 2021 NHL Draft looks to be a fixture in the top-six forward group for Columbus going forward. The 21-year-old notched 16 points in 42 contests before incurring his shoulder injury last season. Overall in his three-year NHL career, Johnson has 59 points in 130 games.
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Blue Jackets' Kent Johnson: Inks three-year deal
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Johnson (shoulder) signed a three-year, $5.4 million contract with the Blue Jackets on Saturday.
Johnson was a restricted free agent this summer after finishing his entry-level contract. He had six goals and 16 points in 42 appearances with Columbus in 2023-24. Johnson didn't play past Feb. 28 due to a torn labrum that resulted in surgery. His initial recovery timetable of six months should make him available for the start of training camp, assuming there are no setbacks.
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Blue Jackets' Kent Johnson: Done for the year
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Johnson will undergo surgery for a torn labrum and miss the rest of the 2023-24 season, Jeff Svoboda of the Blue Jackets' official site reports.
Johnson tallied just six goals and 16 points through 42 NHL games this season. He also racked up 15 points during a 10-game stint with AHL Cleveland. The 21-year-old will spend the offseason recovering and an update on his status for training camp should be available later in the summer.
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Blue Jackets' Kent Johnson: Sidelined indefinitely
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Johnson will be out indefinitely with an upper-body injury, the Blue Jackets announced Thursday.
The club didn't provide a significant update on Johnson's timeline but the fact that it used the term indefinitely certainly doesn't suggest he's facing a short-term absence. The 21-year-old center is currently mired in a 19-game goal drought during which he's managed just three assists and 29 shots while averaging 13:35 of ice time. Unless Alexandre Texier (illness) is ready to play, the Jackets will presumably need to recall a forward from AHL Cleveland ahead of Thursday's clash with Carolina.
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Blue Jackets' Kent Johnson: Scoring surge continues
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Johnson scored his sixth goal of the season in Tuesday's 4-1 loss to the Bruins.
The young sniper supplied Columbus' only offense on the night, beating Linus Ullmark just under his glove on a wicked shot from the slot early in the second period. Johnson has come on strong since being called back up from AHL Cleveland at the start of December -- over the last 12 games he's delivered five goals and 10 points.
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Blue Jackets' Kent Johnson: Ascends to top level
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Johnson was recalled from AHL Cleveland on Thursday.
Johnson seemed lost when he was sent to the minors Nov. 4, as he had only a goal and two assists in eight games. It seems the trip to the minors did wonders for the fifth overall pick in the 2021 Draft, as Johnson had five goals and 15 points in 10 games with the Monsters. The Blue Jackets are in dire need of scoring as they sit 24th in NHL scoring. Look for Johnson to get a top-nine role at this time and expect to see him as a top-six forward in the near future.
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Blue Jackets' Kent Johnson: Continues to thrive in AHL
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Johnson has registered five goals and 15 points in 10 games since being reassigned to AHL Cleveland, but there's still no clear timeline for his return to the Blue Jackets, Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reports.
"It's [about] getting stronger physically, and it's not his fault. He's doing everything right," Columbus coach Pascal Vincent said Friday. "He's just built that way, and now we've created [an off-ice] program for him to improve his ability to win those one-on-one battles. This is great that he's scoring goals, but it's more than points." Johnson is still only 21 and scored 40 points in 79 games as a rookie last season, so the Blue Jackets still view him as a key part of their future. It might take an injury or trade to open up a spot for him in the NHL in the short term, however.
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Blue Jackets' Kent Johnson: Seeing time at center in Cleveland
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Johnson scored two goals in Friday's game for AHL Cleveland, Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reports.
Johnson was sent down to Cleveland a week ago and has already piled up two goals and five points in three AHL games, but the 2021 fifth overall pick's offensive skill has never been in question. The 21-year-old also skated at center for Cleveland on Friday, and while he'll likely be a winger in the NHL, more versatility certainly can't hurt his future outlook. Johnson's demotion was largely due to his need to get stronger on the puck and to handle the physical demands of the NHL, so his fast start for the Monsters may not impact how quickly he's back with Columbus. The fact that Patrik Laine (upper body) returned from injured reserve Friday just further crowds the Jackets' forward ranks, and it might take a trade to open up room for Johnson once the team feels he's ready.
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Blue Jackets' Kent Johnson: First snipe of campaign
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Johnson scored his first goal of the season in Saturday's 5-4 overtime win over the Wild.
On a faceoff in the Minnesota end early in the second period, Cole Sillinger won the draw and got the puck back to Johnson, who immediately ripped it top shelf over Filip Gustavsson. It's Johnson's second point in four games, and after recording 16 goals and 40 points in 79 games as a rookie last season, the fifth overall pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft could take a step forward in his sophomore campaign as part of Columbus' young core.
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Blue Jackets' Kent Johnson: Two helpers in win
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Johnson logged two assists in Tuesday's 7-6 overtime win over the Capitals.
Johnson assisted on Jack Roslovic's power-play tally in the second period before setting up Boone Jenner's game-tying goal with 47 seconds remaining in the third. Johnson has demonstrated his playmaking ability recently, recording seven points (one goal, six assists) over his last seven games. The 20-year-old rookie is up to 14 goals and 22 assists through 67 games while maintaining a top-six role.
