Kent Johnson, top-line right-winger?
According to moneypuck.com, Johnson played on the Blue Jackets top line with Johnny Gaudreau and Boone Jenner for 3:52 at five-on-five. That line combined for this beauty of a goal to help the Jackets win 6-4 against Montreal Thursday night.
#CBJ Jenner (7) goal pic.twitter.com/H6Caf21hxo
— Coby Maeir (@CobyMaeir) November 18, 2022
While the trio of Gaudreau, Jenner, and Johnson were on the ice together at five-on-five, they registered 0.168 expected goals for and just 0.071 expected goals against. It's a small sample size, yes, but they looked effective on the ice together.
I know the projected top line coming into the season was Gaudreau-Jenner-Laine, but now Laine is out for the next three-to-four weeks, so who's to say that Johnson, the No. 5 overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft, shouldn't be the top-line RW for the rest of the season, if for nothing else to give him the chance to play with another elite winger in Gaudreau to help progress his development.
#CBJ Johnson (1) goal pic.twitter.com/OB5ACW7vYr
— Coby Maeir (@CobyMaeir) October 23, 2022
Johnson has earned his chance to play on the Blue Jackets' top line. We'll have to wait and see if he continues to receive it.
