Columbus Blue Jackets Recall Former 5th Overall Pick After Dominating AHL Level

The Columbus Blue Jackets have recalled forward Kent Johnson from the AHL, an important move for both the player and the team.

Johnson, who was the fifth overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft, had been sent down to the AHL on November 3rd after a slow start to the season..

During his stint with the AHL's Cleveland Monsters, Johnson demonstrated a strong performance, leading the league in points per game among players with at least ten games played, with a tally of five goals and 10 assists in 10 games​.

Kent Johnson is BACK in Columbus.

The No. 5 pick in the 2021 Draft put up 5 goals and 15 points in 10 AHL games 💥 pic.twitter.com/SFbqoXtCrD

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) November 30, 2023

This season, before being sent down, Johnson had a challenging start with the Blue Jackets. In eight appearances, he scored a goal and two assists.

His early-season struggles were somewhat surprising, considering his status as a top draft pick and his solid performance in the previous season, where he had 40 points in 79 games for the Blue Jackets.

However, his difficulties in adjusting under the team's new head coach and being a healthy scratch twice likely contributed to the decision to give him time in the AHL​​.

Columbus recalls Kent Johnson https://t.co/7FMAkPbM0r

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) November 30, 2023

Kent Johnson's recall is a strategic move for the Blue Jackets, who are looking to bolster their offensive capabilities.

Johnson's AHL performance has evidently restored confidence in his abilities, indicating his readiness to contribute at the NHL level.

In his first full season in the NHL last year, the 21-year-old was impressive, racking up 16 goals and 40 total points across 79 games played.

Photo Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports