Blue Jackets forward Kent Johnson has been fantastic in the nine games he's played since being recalled from a four-week stint with the AHL's Cleveland Monsters. After being held off the scoresheet in his first three games back with the big club, Johnson has posted three goals and five assists over his last six games, which is a career-best over any six-game span for him, per stathead.com.
you KENT stop him. @FanaticsBook | #CBJ pic.twitter.com/LGqkWrbX7K
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) December 20, 2023
The underlying numbers are friendly to him, as well. Among players with at least 220 minutes played this season, Johnson ranks first on the Jackets and 13th in the NHL in wins above replacement per 60 minutes, according to evolving-hockey.com. Additionally, his five-on-five on-ice expected goals percentage has been 59.1% since he returned from the AHL, per naturalstattrick.com.
Kent Johnson's Game Scores Since Being Recalled, Per hockeystatcards.com.
While the Blue Jackets are surely happy to see Johnson playing well, nobody will benefit from a continued stretch of high-level play than Johnson himself. The No. 5 pick in the 2021 NHL Draft is scheduled to be a restricted free agent this summer and will be looking to sign a new deal ahead of the 2024-25 season. The better he plays, the more leverage he and his agent Pat Brisson have in negotiations.
Last season, Johnson posted 16-24--40 in 79 games and showed many flashes of being an elite player. While the longevity hasn't been there yet this season, his peaks have arguably been higher this season, which should be encouraging to the team and its fans.
Yeah. Its good. He's a special player as well. I know it's he's early in his career and he had a great World Juniors last year and obviously has a ton of skill. I'm sure he'll be a good player for a long time. High pick, you know, highly touted so he's got a bright future.
— Coby Maeir (@CobyMaeir) December 24, 2022
With 11 points in 17 games this season, Johnson is on pace to score 16-27--43 in 66 games, which is a 53-point pace over an 82-game season. From that standpoint alone, he's improving. But even more than that, he's been playing much better on the defensive side of the puck and looks like a more well-rounded player than he did a season ago.
Johnson is a franchise cornerstone, and if these last nine games are any indication, he's going to be a special player for years to come.
