The Columbus Blue Jackets scratched Kent Johnson from the lineup recently.
That doesn’t mean what trade rumors might think it means.
Johnson, it turns out, isn’t going anywhere.
“Teams have called on Columbus Blue Jackets center Kent Johnson after his recent scratch, but the answer from the Blue Jackets has been that they’re not interested in moving him,” The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun wrote on Thursday. “Johnson is having a down year, but the fifth overall pick from the 2021 draft is still only 23, and Columbus very much still believes in the player he can be.”
Johnson has scuffled this season in a major way, as LeBrun alludes to.
In 57 games, the left-shot center has just six goals and 12 assists (18 points). He’s not an impactful defensive player on the stat sheet, either, and he’s averaging just 13 minutes and 39 seconds of ice time per game as he struggles to find his way.
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A year ago, Johnson played 68 games and 57 points, seemingly a breakout with his 24 goals and 33 assists.
Johnson hasn’t found a way to carry that into this season at all, though, and it puts the Blue Jackets in a tough spot.
The interest from other teams does signify that there are plenty of folks around the NHL who still believe in Johnson. So the Blue Jackets might very well be wise to keep him around.
The scratch likely wasn’t permanent, anyway, but just a chance to refresh and recharge.
Columbus still plans on counting on Johnson in the future, so he isn’t going anywhere before Friday’s NHL trade deadline.
