Blue Jackets' Kent Johnson Suffers Season-Ending Injury

 

After a nice start to his NHL career in his first full season last year, former No. 5 overall pick Kent Johnson has had a rougher go of it in his second go-round, and now, will see his sophomore season come to a prematurely conclusion due to season-ending surgery this coming week.

NEWS: #CBJ forward Kent Johnson done for season with torn labrum in left shoulder. Surgery this week

— NHL News (@PuckReportNHL) March 3, 2024

It's a torn labrum for Johnson, a tough break for the 21-year-old. The injury appeared to occur on a faceoff in the dying seconds of the Jackets' 4-1 loss to the New York Rangers Wednesday night.

He had a very nice rookie season in Columbus with 16 goals and 40 points in 79 games, but this season has only managed to bulge the twine six times, with 10 assists for 16 points in 42 games. He's also been relegated to one less minute of ice time per night, at 13 1/2 minutes per game. Johnson was sent down to the Cleveland Monsters for a time in November, and posted 15 points in 10 AHL games.

This is not ideal news for Kent Johnson. We've seen Zach Werenski and Jake Bean come back from labrum injuries, but to have the injury this late in the season and have to spend a chunk of summer rehabbing is not ideal. #CBJ

— Jeff Svoboda (@JacketsInsider) March 3, 2024

Johnson is wrapping up his entry-level contract and was scheduled to be a restricted free agent this summer, so this is an especially tough turn of events for the youngster. He'll now have to spend much of the summer rehabbing. 

Photo: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports