When Jack Johnson stepped on the ice Wednesday night, his jersey had changed.
The union blue front of his team-issued sweater had an addition – a sparkling new “A” denoting his new role as an assistant captain for the team.
It was an impressive promotion for one of the team’s veterans, but don’t expect him to change the way he approaches his role.
“Something like that, they do it because of who you are, not because they want you to be somebody else, so it doesn’t change anything,” Johnson said. “I never plan on changing my approach for anything. I’ll be the same guy in the room, be the same player for the team every night.”
That has to be music to head coach John Tortorella’s ears. While much was made about what moving Johnson into an alternate captain’s role meant for Brandon Dubinsky, who saw the “A” disappear from his jersey, Tortorella tried to make it clear the move was as much about what Johnson brings to the table as what Dubinsky needs to do to right his own personal ship.
“It’s a twofold thing here,” Tortorella said. “I look at Jack Johnson, he’s a leader. He’s a guy that I think I need with our young defensemen. I want him to feel a part of that leadership. I think Jack is proud of having a letter, and with the young D, I think it’s a really good thing there for us.”
Johnson also provides a bit of a different style of leadership. While Dubinsky has been a vocal leader since the time he arrived from New York in a trade – “Dubi talks a lot, Jack doesn’t say much,” Tortorella said – Johnson approaches things from his own perspective.
He’s also a defenseman, and an old one in a crew where legal drinks are generally a new phenomenon – or still a pipe dream for 20-year-olds Zach Werenski and Gabriel Carlsson. Werenski’s running mate, Seth Jones, just turned 23, the same age as Markus Nutivaara, while Ryan Murray and Scott Harrington are each 24.
Then there’s Johnson, who is the only member of the blue line born in the 1980s (Jan. 13, 1987). At 30 years old, he brings a veteran’s calm to the unit in times of turmoil.
“He’s an old-school guy,” Tortorella said. “I think some of the young guys need some old school stuff, too. We get all wrapped up in this new wave of hockey and how you play, how you think and the analytics of it all. Sometimes, it’s just the will, and Jack certainly oozes that.
“I’m sure he has some very frank conversations, some very simple conversations about how to play the game and that position, the toughest position to play.”
Speaking generally, Johnson said he feels he can bring some strong advice to his younger teammates based on his experience.
“It’s my 11th season, and I feel like every season presents new challenges to you and has a different storyline,” he said. “I think the biggest piece of advice I could ever give a young guy is the secret to being a good pro is being consistent every night. You can’t be good for five games or 10 games and then take five to 10 off. It’s being able to show up for all 82 plus playoffs and being the same player the coaches can rely on every night.”
Jones, who also could be considered one of the veterans of the group now considering he’s in his fifth full season in the league, said having someone like Johnson wearing a letter makes a difference for the blue-line unit.
“It’s very important,” Jones said. “I think Jack is definitely a leader on our team and especially for our defensive corps as the most experienced guy. We have guys who look up to him. He’s that guy that is consistent for us every night, so it’s nice that he has a chance with the ‘A’ now.”
Johnson has had an up-and-down career, another way he’s able to bring perspective to the unit. He was chosen third overall in the 2005 NHL entry draft by Carolina but never played for the team. After two years at Michigan – where he had 71 points in 74 career games – and a bunch of experience with junior U.S. national teams, Johnson debuted late in the 2006-07 season with the Los Angeles Kings.
He spent parts of six seasons with the Kings, alternating offensive promise – including a career-high 42 points in 2010-11 and a career-best 12 goals a year later – with what many saw as defensive shortcomings including a minus-90 rating with L.A.
Johnson came to Columbus in February 2012 for Jeff Carter and immediately embraced the team and fan base, an important part of his transition to the squad. His game also matured over the years, and now Johnson is coming off a season in which he was part of a shutdown pair with David Savard.
And now, he’s part of the leadership group for a Blue Jackets team with high hopes.
“I just know Jack,” Tortorella said. “He’s going to lead. … I think he’s been a leader since he came into this league. He was a bit of a renegade when he first came – he was up the ice, taking chances. He has that type of personality. You watch him in the weight room and off the ice, you can’t help but follow him as far as how he takes care of himself.
“This is something quite honestly I’ve thought about for a long time – not so much rewarding Jack, but we have such a young back end there. I wanted someone back there. The situation with Dubi, it pushes me that way.”
