1200-Game NHL Veteran & Stanley Cup Champion Signs With Central Division Team

A third-overall selection in the 2005 Entry Draft, Jack Johnson ended his final season playing with the Columbus Blue Jackets and managed just six assists in 41 appearances.

He also logged just 12:52 of ice time per game. His advanced stats were the worst on the club, too. Johnson's Columbus struggles build on a more respectable 2023-24 season with the Avalanche in Colorado, a place where he won the Stanley Cup.

There, Johnson netted three goals and accumulated 16 points over 80 appearances played, logging nearly 15 minutes of ice time per evening. His advanced stats were also way better in Denver.

The Wild Defense is Extremely Solid, so Johnson Will Have His Work Cut Out for Him

Even without Jonas Brodin coming into the season, the Wild's defense is rock solid and extremely valuable, which means it will be that much harder for Johnson to crack the lineup.

The seventh D slot is occupied by Zach Bogosian or David Jiricek, health allowing, and that makes Johnson an outside-looking-in player.

As big a veteran as he is, you can be sure of one thing: Johnson will not take an AHL assignment, which means his Minnesota PTO is very likely all about either making the NHL roster or likely calling it quits on a very solid career.