Blue Jackets Sign Top Prospect

On Friday, the Columbus Blue Jackets announced that they are signing their first-round pick from the 2021 NHL Draft forward Kent Johnson to his three-year entry-level contract. His contract will carry an average annual salary of $925,000 per season at the NHL level. Johnson signs his ELC just a day after his Michigan Wolverines fell 3-2 in overtime to Denver at the NCAA Frozen Four tournament.

WELCOME TO COLUMBUS, @19KJOHNSON!https://t.co/8igEzzF7WQ
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) April 8, 2022

Johnson put up eight goals and 37 points in 32 games during his second and final season with the Wolverines. His performances helped his team win the Big-10 tournament Championship and then reach the Frozen Four in the tournament of the same name.

His freshman season he put up nine goals and 27 points in 26 games, which led to him being taken fifth overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. This gives Johnson a total of 17 goals and 64 points in 58 games in his career as a Wolverine.

As well as playing for the Wolverines, Johnson got to represent Canada on two occasions this season. The first was the World Juniors where he put up a single goal in two games, before the tournament got canceled due to a Covid outbreak early on. However, it has been announced that the tournament will take place from the beginning in August later this year. Johnson is highly likely to be playing for his country again at that tournament.

The second time the 19-year old got to represent Canada was at the Olympics in the absence of NHL players, where he put up a stellar goal and four assists against competition for the majority much older and experienced than him. As a result, his five points in as many games, placed him fourth in points on the Canadian team that lost in the quarterfinals to Team Sweden.

After a very busy season, Johnson will now join his fourth team of the calendar year in the Columbus Blue Jackets. He is expected to join the Blue Jackets right away, and could potentially play his NHL debut as early as next Wednesday against the Montreal Canadiens.

Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen was very busy as he also signed Johnson's teammate and captain Nick Blackenburg to a one-year ELC.