Jack Johnson News

Johnson is dealing with a minor lower-body injury, so he'll come out of the lineup on Thursday. Ryan Murray will replace him, returning from a lower-body injury of his own.

Johnson didn't play a lot in 2021, registering just one goal in 13 games with the Rangers. This preseason, he was in Avalanche camp on a PTO and earned a one-year deal to be their No.6 defenseman to open the season. With Devon Toews out, Johnson should be a fixture on the blueline in the early part of the season but will likely fall back into a reserve role once Toews is healthy enough to play.

Johnson's 2021 campaign is over after undergoing sports hernia-related surgery. With Johnson out, Libor Hajek has become a regular on the Rangers' blueline and they could look for outside at the deadline to bolster their depth.

Johnson has not been in the lineup for the last two games and was absent from practice on Sunday. The Rangers called him day-to-day and Tony DeAngelo was placed on waivers, so look for Anthony Bitetto to be in the lineup on Monday.

After the Penguins bought out the final three years of his contract on Tuesday, the Rangers brought in Johnson on a one-year deal to have him replace Marc Staal. Johnson struggled in Pittsburgh, making this signing a little curious. But at the very least it allows the Rangers' young defensemen more time to develop.

Johnson had three years left with a $3.25M cap hit but is now an unrestricted free agent hoping for one last chance. Johnson's buyout will cost the Penguins $1.17M agains the cap for the next two years, $1.92M in 2023 and $916K AAV from 2024-to-2026 (per PuckPedia). In 2020, Johnson had 11 points (3G / 8A), 183 hits and 97 blocked shots in 67 games.

Johnson was a healthy scratch in Game 1 with Brian Dumoulin returning from injury but Johnson will likely replace Olli Maatta, who struggled in the overtime loss, on the blueline in Game 2. Johnson appeared in all 82 regular season games this season, picking up one goal and 12 assists (13 points).

Johnson was forced to leave Monday’s game vs. the Devils and did not return. Head coach Mike Sullivan did not have an update on Johnson’s status post-game but expects to have more information on Tuesday. This is poor timing because the Penguins depleted their blueline depth on Monday, trading Jamie Oleksiak to the Stars.

Johnson is a former No.3 overall pick, who has had a few bad years. Johnson is coming off of a season in which he had a -5.4 relative Corsi and was a healthy scratch during the playoffs. However, Johnson remains a high-end skater who can play a physical style of game and brings some offence as well. In Pittsburgh, he will be an upgrade on Chad Ruhwedel as a third-pairing defenseman.

Johnson has missed the last seven games with a shoulder injury, but will undergo surgery and miss the remainder of the regular season. Johnson’s season wraps up with 14 points (6G / 8A) and a minus-16 rating in 60 games.

Johnson was injured midway through Thursday’s win over the Devils and is out for the foreseeable future. With Johnson out, look for Cody Goloubef to get into the lineup and for the Blue Jackets to make a call-up later today.

Johnson missed the last two games with an upper-body injury, but will be back in the lineup tonight in Pittsburgh. Johnson has not registered a point and has posted a minus-6 rating in his last five games. With Johnson back in, Kevin Connauton will come out of the lineup.