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Ryan Johnson (ice hockey, born 1976)

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Ryan Johnson
Johnson with the Vancouver Canucks in January 2009
Born (1976-06-14) June 14, 1976 (age 48)
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 1996–2011

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

Playing career

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Florida Panthers and Lightning (1997–2003)

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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 (2003–2008)

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Johnson blocks a shot by Los Angeles Kings defenceman Lubomir Visnovsky in December 2006.

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 (2008–2010)

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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]

Johnson with the Chicago Blackhawks in February 2011

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] limiting him to 58 games.

Chicago Blackhawks (2010–2011)

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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 in a 4–1 win over the Detroit Red Wings on December 17, 2010.[11] He played 34 games for the Blackhawks in 2010–11 with one goal, five assists and six points while playing on the Hawks' fourth line with Tomáš Kopecký and Viktor Stålberg. Johnson scored one goal and four assists for five points in six playoff games in the Blackhawks first round exit in seven games to Johnson's former team, the Presidents' Trophy-winning Vancouver Canucks.

Personal life

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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

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Regular season and playoffs

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1992–93 Thunder Bay Kings AAA Midget 60 25 33 58
1993–94 Thunder Bay Flyers USHL 48 14 36 50 28
1994–95 University of North Dakota WCHA 38 6 22 28 39
1995–96 Canadian National Team Intl 28 5 12 17 14
1995–96 University of North Dakota WCHA 21 2 17 19 14
1996–97 Carolina Monarchs AHL 78 18 24 42 28
1997–98 Beast of New Haven AHL 64 19 48 67 12 3 0 1 1 0
1997–98 Florida Panthers NHL 10 0 2 2 0
1998–99 Beast of New Haven AHL 37 8 19 27 18
1998–99 Florida Panthers NHL 1 1 0 1 0
1999–00 Florida Panthers NHL 66 4 12 16 14
1999–00 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 14 0 2 2 2
2000–01 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 80 7 14 21 44
2001–02 Florida Panthers NHL 29 1 3 4 10
2002–03 Florida Panthers NHL 58 2 5 7 26
2002–03 St. Louis Blues NHL 17 0 0 0 12 6 0 2 2 6
2003–04 St. Louis Blues NHL 69 4 7 11 8 3 0 0 0 0
2004–05 Missouri River Otters UHL 29 7 14 21 12 6 1 0 1 13
2005–06 St. Louis Blues NHL 65 3 6 9 33
2006–07 St. Louis Blues NHL 59 7 4 11 47
2007–08 St. Louis Blues NHL 79 5 13 18 22
2008–09 Vancouver Canucks NHL 62 2 7 9 12 10 1 1 2 2
2009–10 Vancouver Canucks NHL 58 1 4 5 12 4 0 0 0 2
2010–11 Rockford IceHogs AHL 1 0 0 0 0
2010–11 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 34 1 5 6 8 6 0 1 1 2
NHL totals 701 38 84 122 250 29 1 4 5 12

References

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  1. ^ "Canucks Hockey Operations". Retrieved August 2, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d "Ryan Johnson - NHL Profile". National Hockey League. Retrieved September 1, 2011.
  3. ^ a b "Coach can circle the wagons by sending out Johnson". The Province. September 26, 2008. Retrieved September 26, 2008.
  4. ^ "Two bad breaks put Johnson out 3-5 weeks". Vancouver Sun. November 26, 2008. Retrieved November 28, 2008.
  5. ^ "Johnson set to return after 20 games with finger, foot injuries". Vancouver Sun. January 8, 2009. Retrieved January 18, 2009.[permanent dead link]
  6. ^ "Demitra and three other Canucks go under the knife". Vancouver Sun. Retrieved June 6, 2009.[permanent dead link]
  7. ^ "Canucks breathe big sigh of relief as Ryan Johnson's injury not as bad as first seemed". Calgary Herald. October 28, 2009. Archived from the original on October 31, 2009. Retrieved October 29, 2009.
  8. ^ "Ryan Johnson". The Sports Network. Retrieved April 7, 2010.
  9. ^ "Canucks' Johnson out for at least first round of playoffs". The Sports Network. April 6, 2010. Retrieved April 7, 2010.
  10. ^ "Blackhawks sign Ryan Johnson". Daily Herald. December 17, 2010. Retrieved December 17, 2010.
  11. ^ "Hawks snap slump by beating Red Wings 4-1". National Hockey League. December 17, 2010. Retrieved December 17, 2010.
  12. ^ a b c d "A marathon Ryan Johnson will always remember". The Province. September 16, 2009. Retrieved September 28, 2009. [dead link]
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