The Blue Jackets re-signed their one remaining free agent, announcing today that they have signed forward Kent Johnson to a three-year contract worth $1.8 million per season. General manager Don Waddell released the following statement:
“Kent Johnson is an exciting young player with a great future. We are excited to watch him continue to grow and develop as a member of the Blue Jackets. He has only just shown a glimpse of his potential as a player, but we believe he will be a very valuable addition to our hockey club in the future.”
The Athletic’s Aaron Portsline reports:Twitter LinkThe NBA announced it would pay Johnson $1.6 million next season, $1.8 million in 2025-26 and $2 million in 2026-27. The $2 million amount is a qualifying offer that will be required when he has two years remaining on his contract and is eligible for salary arbitration.
The 21-year-old Johnson was a first-round draft pick out of Columbus University in 2021, taken fifth overall, following a very strong year at Michigan in which he averaged just over a point per game. Johnson was even more productive the following season, recording 37 points in 32 games and convincing Blue Jackets management that he was ready to go pro.
Johnson signed late in the 2021-22 season and wasted the first year of his contract, appearing in nine games and recording three assists — respectable numbers for a player who just joined the team — before going on to have a 16-goal, 40-point season in 2022-23 that made him a popular breakout candidate heading into last season.
Unfortunately, last year was a tough one for Johnson and the Blue Jackets. He got off to a slow start and was demoted to AHL Cleveland, where he spent nearly a month. During that time, Johnson performed reasonably well, recording five goals and 10 assists in 10 games, and was recalled in late November. However, production continued to be a struggle, finishing with six goals and 10 assists in 42 NHL games before a shoulder injury ended his season prematurely in late February.
As a result, a stopgap deal makes the most sense for both parties, as Johnson has time to prove that last year was an aberration and not a sign of things to come. After struggling under coach Pascal Vincent last year, Johnson will get a fresh start with head coach Dean Evason.
Columbus still has work to do contract-wise this summer. Winger Kirill Marchenko’s arbitration hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, and if a deal isn’t reached by then, they’ll have to file pre-hearing paperwork on Monday. Meanwhile, Cole Sillinger, who was picked seven spots after Johnson in 2021, is also a restricted free agent and in need of a new contract. Cap space won’t be an issue in these negotiations, as they still have more than $15 million in cap space, according to Packedia.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
