Brent Johnson

Brent Spencer Johnson (born March 12, 1977) is an American former professional ice hockey goaltender. He played in the National Hockey League for the St. Louis Blues, Phoenix Coyotes, Washington Capitals, and the Pittsburgh Penguins. He is currently a studio analyst for NBC Sports Washington.

Brent Johnson
Johnson with the Washington Capitals in 2008
Born	March 12, 1977[1] Farmington, Michigan, U.S.
Height	6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight	199 lb (90 kg; 14 st 3 lb)
Position	Goaltender
Caught	Left
Played for	St. Louis Blues Phoenix Coyotes Washington Capitals Pittsburgh Penguins
NHL Draft	129th overall, 1995 Colorado Avalanche[2]
Playing career	1997–2012

Playing career

Olaf Kölzig and Brent Johnson in a 2007–08 Capitals practice session at the Kettler Ice Center in Arlington, Virginia.

As a youth, Johnson played in the 1991 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with a minor ice hockey team from Fraser, Michigan.[3]

Originally a fifth round 1995 draft pick of the Colorado Avalanche, Johnson started his NHL career with the St. Louis Blues in the 1998–1999 season.[4] He played there until he was traded during the 2003–04 season to the Phoenix Coyotes. Johnson was signed by the Vancouver Canucks prior to the start of the 2005–06 season, but was soon claimed on waivers by the Capitals, where he played behind both Olaf Kölzig and José Théodore.[5][6]

Johnson is the grandson of NHL Hall of Famer Sid Abel and the son of former NHL goaltender Bob Johnson.[7] Brent Johnson was in goal for the Capitals on February 4, 2006 when they played against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Lightning's goaltender for the game was John Grahame, the son of former NHL goaltender Ron Grahame. According to the Capitals, this game was the first occasion where two second-generation NHL goaltenders competed against each other.[8]

For the week ending November 9, 2008, Johnson was named the NHL Third Star of the Week by helping the Capitals collect five points in three games (each consecutive starts). He went 2–0–1 with a 1.63 GAA and a .953 save percentage.

He underwent hip surgery in February 2009 and was expected to be out of action two months.[9]

Johnson was deemed expendable by Washington after the emergence of young goalie Semyon Varlamov. On July 21, 2009, Johnson was signed as a free agent to a one-year contract by the Pittsburgh Penguins to back-up Marc-André Fleury.[10] After helping the Penguins to 10 wins in 23 games for the 2009–10 season he was signed to a two-year extension with Pittsburgh, through to the 2011–12 season on April 13, 2010.[11] On February 2, 2011, Johnson had his first fight in the NHL when he engaged with Rick DiPietro in a fight after DiPietro and Matt Cooke collided near the goal crease. Johnson skated over to DiPietro, ignoring the referee waving him off, and took DiPietro down with one punch. It was later found out that DiPietro suffered facial fractures from the punch. Johnson received leaving crease and game misconduct penalties. The next game against the Islanders (9 days later), Johnson once again in goal, fought with Islanders center Micheal Haley along with Penguins forward Eric Godard who left the bench to assist his goaltender.

Brent Johnson, October 2011.

In the last year of his contract with the Penguins, during the 2011–12 season, Johnson struggled to repeat his impressive earlier form and suffered his worst season in Pittsburgh.[12] With just six wins, he was subsequently not tendered a new contract by the Penguins and was released to free agency.[13]

Personal

He married Erica Danielle Ence of Burke, Virginia on August 11, 2007.[14] The couple have two daughters.

Johnson is the grandson of NHL Hall of Famer Sid Abel and the son of former Penguins' goaltender Bob Johnson.

Johnson is also a fan of the English rock band Led Zeppelin, and often paid tribute to the band in the artwork on his goalie masks.[15]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season											Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	W	L	T	OTL	MIN	GA	SO	GAA	SV%		GP	W	L	MIN	GA	SO	GAA	SV%
1993–94	Detroit Compuware Ambassadors	NAHL		18	—	—	—	—	1024	49	1	3.52	—		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1994–95	Owen Sound Platers	OHL		18	3	9	1	—	904	95	0	4.98	—		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1995–96	Owen Sound Platers	OHL		58	24	28	1	—	3211	243	1	4.54	.884		6	2	4	371	29	0	4.69	—
1996–97	Owen Sound Platers	OHL		50	20	28	1	—	2798	201	1	4.31	.891		4	0	4	253	24	0	5.69	—
1997–98	Worcester IceCats	AHL		42	14	15	7	—	2240	119	0	3.19	.899		6	3	2	332	19	0	3.43	.885
1998–99	Worcester IceCats	AHL		49	22	22	4	—	2925	146	2	2.99	.896		4	1	3	238	12	0	3.03	.916
1998–99	St. Louis Blues	NHL		6	3	2	0	—	286	10	0	2.10	.921		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1999–00	Worcester IceCats	AHL		58	24	27	5	—	3319	161	3	2.91	.911		9	4	5	561	23	1	2.46	.931
2000–01	St. Louis Blues	NHL		31	19	9	2	—	1744	63	4	2.17	.907		2	0	1	62	2	0	1.94	.944
2001–02	St. Louis Blues	NHL		58	34	20	4	—	3491	127	5	2.18	.902		10	5	5	590	18	3	1.83	.929
2002–03	Worcester IceCats	AHL		2	0	1	1	—	125	8	0	3.84	.880		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2002–03	St. Louis Blues	NHL		38	16	13	5	—	2042	85	2	2.47	.900		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2003–04	Worcester IceCats	AHL		8	2	2	2	—	365	14	0	2.30	.910		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2003–04	St. Louis Blues	NHL		10	4	3	1	—	493	20	1	2.43	.901		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2003–04	Phoenix Coyotes	NHL		8	1	6	1	—	486	21	0	2.59	.914		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2005–06	Washington Capitals	NHL		26	9	12	—	1	1413	81	1	3.43	.905		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2006–07	Washington Capitals	NHL		30	6	15	—	7	1644	99	0	3.61	.889		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2007–08	Hershey Bears	AHL		1	0	1	—	0	59	3	0	3.04	.925		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2007–08	Washington Capitals	NHL		19	7	8	—	2	1032	46	0	2.67	.908		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2008–09	Washington Capitals	NHL		16	10	4	—	2	902	37	0	2.46	.908		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2009–10	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL		23	10	6	—	1	1108	51	0	2.76	.906		1	0	0	31	1	0	1.91	.857
2010–11	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL		23	13	5	—	3	1297	47	1	2.17	.922		1	0	0	34	4	0	7.06	.636
2011–12	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL		16	6	7	—	2	811	42	0	3.11	.883		1	0	0	20	2	0	6.00	.667
NHL totals				309	140	112	13	18	16,978	744	14	2.63	.904		15	5	6	738	27	3	2.20	.914

See also

• Notable families in the NHL

References

1. "Brent Johnson Stats". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved December 29, 2019.
2. "NHL Entry Draft Year by Year Results". National Hockey League.
3. "Pee-Wee players who have reached NHL or WHA" (PDF). Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. 2018. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
4. "Brent Johnson profile". NHL.com. Retrieved February 19, 2012.
5. "Capitals Re-Sign Goaltender Brent Johnson to a Two-Year Contract Extension". Washington Capitals. January 12, 2007. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
6. Marine, Troy (November 11, 2008). "Jose Theodore—Brent Johnson; Is there a goalie controversy in DC?". Bleacher Report. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
7. "Legendsofhockey – Brent Johnson". legendsofhockey.net. August 14, 2010. Retrieved August 14, 2010.
8. "Grahame gets another shutout as Bolts beat Caps". ESPN. February 4, 2006. Retrieved October 2, 2009.
9. "Washington Capitals goalie Brent Johnson needs hip surgery, out 6-8 weeks". Sports Illustrated. February 5, 2009. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
10. "Pens sign Goaltender Brent Johnson". Pittsburgh Penguins. July 21, 2009. Retrieved August 14, 2010.
11. "Penguins sign Johnson to two-year contract extension". Pittsburgh Penguins. April 13, 2010. Retrieved April 15, 2010.
12. "Penguins have faith in struggling back-up Johnson". NBC Sports. February 20, 2012. Retrieved February 20, 2012.
13. O'Brien, James (September 23, 2012). "Brent Johnson hopes his career won't end amid a lockout". NBC Sports. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
14. Nichols, Chris (September 24, 2012). "Nichols: Oilers the mystery team for Luongo?". Sportsnet. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
15. Wyshynski, Greg (February 24, 2012). "Whole lotta love for Penguins goalie Brent Johnson's Led Zeppelin-inspired mask". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved August 23, 2020.

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from Eliteprospects.com, or The Internet Hockey Database