Ryan Johnson (ice hockey, born 1976)

Ryan M. Johnson (born June 14, 1976) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre. He currently works as the director of player development for the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League (NHL) and as the general manager for their American Hockey League (AHL) development team, the Utica Comets.[1]

Ryan Johnson
Born (1976-06-14) June 14, 1976
Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 199 lb (90 kg; 14 st 3 lb)
Position Centre
Shot Left
Played for Florida Panthers
Tampa Bay Lightning
St. Louis Blues
Vancouver Canucks
Chicago Blackhawks
NHL Draft 36th overall, 1994
Florida Panthers
Playing career 19962011

Playing career

Panthers and Lightning

Johnson was drafted by the Florida Panthers in the second round, 36th overall, of the 1994 NHL Entry Draft. He subsequently played two seasons of college hockey with the University of North Dakota. He scored 19 points in 21 games, splitting the 1995–96 season with the Canadian national team.

In his first three seasons with the Panthers, Johnson played with Florida's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliates, the Carolina Monarchs and the Beast of New Haven. In 1999–2000, he earned a full-time roster spot with the Panthers, but was traded during that season to the Tampa Bay Lightning with Dwayne Hay in exchange for Mike Sillinger on March 14, 2000.[2]

Johnson spent one full season with the Lightning, scoring 21 points in 2000–01. On July 10, 2001, he was traded back to the Panthers with a sixth-round draft pick (later traded back to Tampa Bay) in 2003 in exchange for Václav Prospal.[2] However, he missed the majority of his first season back in Florida from a head injury suffered on December 22, 2001, against the St. Louis Blues.[2]

St. Louis Blues

Near the trade deadline of the next season, he was placed on waivers and acquired by the St. Louis Blues on February 19, 2003.[2] Johnson spent four full seasons with the Blues, playing with the Missouri River Otters of the United Hockey League (UHL) during the 2004–05 NHL lockout. After posting 18 points and leading all forwards in the league in shot blocks with 105 in 2007–08,[3] Johnson became an unrestricted free agent in the off-season; he signed a two-year, $2.3 million contract with the Vancouver Canucks.[3]

Vancouver Canucks

Johnson taking a faceoff against the Phoenix Coyotes in 2009.

Playing his first season in Vancouver, Johnson broke a finger on his right hand while blocking a shot in November against the Minnesota Wild. He played with the injury for two games before being pulled from the lineup. It was then revealed that Johnson had also suffered a broken bone in his left foot in the third game of the season, which he had played through for six weeks.[4] After missing 20 games, Johnson returned to the lineup on January 9, 2009, despite still feeling considerable pain in his fractured finger.[5] After completing his first season in Vancouver with 2 goals and 9 points in 62 games, it was revealed that off-season surgery was required for the injured finger.[6]

Nearly a month into the 2009–10 season, Johnson was involved in a head-first collision into the end boards in a game against the Detroit Red Wings on October 27, 2009. After chipping the puck into the offensive zone, Johnson lost his balance trying to skate around Detroit defenceman Nicklas Lidström and slid heavily into the boards with his shoulder and neck. He was taken off the ice in a stretcher after laying motionless on the ice for several moments.[7] After missing five games with a concussion, he was later sidelined for 12 games in January 2010 with a broken foot.[8] He played through lingering injuries on both feet until suffering another broken foot while blocking a shot in early April.[9] Limited to 58 games, Johnson scored one goal and five points.

Chicago Blackhawks

After not receiving a contract extension from the Canucks, Johnson became an unrestricted free agent. Unsigned to start the 2010–11 season, he was given a professional tryout with the Chicago Blackhawks' AHL affiliate, the Rockford Icehogs, in December 2010. He played one game for the Icehogs before signing a one-year deal with the Blackhawks.[10] Immediately recalled after the deal, Johnson played his first game with the Blackhawks on December 17, 2010.[11]

Personal life

Johnson was born to Jim and Judy Johnson in Thunder Bay, Ontario, on June 14, 1976.[12] He has a sister, Sarah,[12] and two older brothers: Greg, who played with the Detroit Red Wings, Pittsburgh Penguins, Chicago Blackhawks, and Nashville Predators; and Corey. After his father lost a battle with cancer on June 7, 2008, at age 63, Johnson completed a 42.2-kilometre marathon the following year on June 20, 2009, in Duluth, Minnesota, as a tribute.[12] He finished the run in just under four hours at three hours, 59 minutes and 52 seconds.[12]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GPGAPtsPIM GPGAPtsPIM
1992–93 Thunder Bay Kings AAA Midget 60253358
1993–94 Thunder Bay Flyers USHL 4814365028
1994–95 University of North Dakota WCHA 386222839
1995–96 Canadian National Team Intl 285121714
1995–96 University of North Dakota WCHA 212171914
1996–97 Carolina Monarchs AHL 7818244228
1997–98 Beast of New Haven AHL 6419486712 30110
1997–98 Florida Panthers NHL 100220
1998–99 Beast of New Haven AHL 378192718
1998–99 Florida Panthers NHL 11010
1999–00 Florida Panthers NHL 664121614
1999–00 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 140222
2000–01 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 807142144
2001–02 Florida Panthers NHL 2913410
2002–03 Florida Panthers NHL 5825726
2002–03 St. Louis Blues NHL 1700012 60226
2003–04 St. Louis Blues NHL 6947118 30000
2004–05 Missouri River Otters UHL 297142112 610113
2005–06 St. Louis Blues NHL 6536933
2006–07 St. Louis Blues NHL 59741147
2007–08 St. Louis Blues NHL 795131822
2008–09 Vancouver Canucks NHL 6227912 101122
2009–10 Vancouver Canucks NHL 5814512 40002
2010–11 Rockford IceHogs AHL 10000
2010–11 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 341568 60112
NHL totals 7013884122250 2914512

References

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