Johnson had plenty of people dismiss him as too small for the NHL, but by age 24 he had made a huge impact in the League, being named to the All-Star Game and helping the Lightning reach the 2015 Stanley Cup Final. Five years later, he became a Stanley Cup champion when the Lightning defeated the Dallas Stars in the Final.
The 5-foot-8, 185-pound center went undrafted despite winning the Memorial Cup in 2008 with Spokane, his hometown team, and being named the Western Hockey League's playoff MVP, as well as earning a gold medal with the United States at the 2010 IIHF World Junior Championships.
Johnson had plenty of people dismiss him as too small for the NHL, but by age 24 he had made a huge impact in the League, being named to the All-Star Game and helping the Lightning reach the 2015 Stanley Cup Final. Five years later, he became a Stanley Cup champion when the Lightning defeated the Dallas Stars in the Final.
The 5-foot-8, 185-pound center went undrafted despite winning the Memorial Cup in 2008 with Spokane, his hometown team, and being named the Western Hockey League's playoff MVP, as well as earning a gold medal with the United States at the 2010 IIHF World Junior Championships.
Johnson eventually drew interest from NHL teams and signed with Tampa Bay. He won the Calder Cup with Norfolk of the American Hockey League in 2011-12, his first professional season. In 2012-13, he was named the AHL's most valuable player and earned his first call-up with the Lightning, appearing in 14 games for Tampa Bay, finishing with three goals and six points.
He played all 82 games for the Lightning in 2013-14, setting a team rookie record with 24 goals and being named a finalist for the Calder Trophy as the NHL's top rookie. He also made his first appearance in the NHL All-Star Game.
In 2014-15, Johnson had 29 goals and tied for the team lead with 72 points. He helped Tampa Bay reach the Stanley Cup Final by scoring a League-high 13 playoff goals before being slowed by a fractured wrist sustained in Game 2 of the Final.
Johnson battled injuries in 2015-16 but scored seven goals and 17 points in 17 playoff games, including his second career overtime goal in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Final against Pittsburgh.
On July 10, 2017, Johnson signed a seven-year contract with the Lightning. He scored his 100th NHL goal in a game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Dec. 31, 2017, and finished the 2017-18 season with 21 goals and 50 points in 81 games. Johnson matched his NHL career high by scoring 29 goals in 2018-19, helping the Lightning tie the NHL record for victories in a season set by the Detroit Red Wings in 1995-96.
Johnson scored his 151st NHL goal on Jan. 29, 2020, passing Brad Richards for fifth in Lightning history.
NOTES & TRANSACTIONS
- WHL West First All-Star Team (2011)
- AHL All-Rookie Team (2012)
- Willie Marshall Award (AHL -- Top Goal-scorer) (2013)
- Les Cunningham Award (AHL -- MVP) (2013)
- NHL All-Rookie Team (2014)
- Signed as a free agent by Tampa Bay, March 7, 2011.
