Aaron Johnson (ice hockey)

For other people named Aaron Johnson, see Aaron Johnson (disambiguation).

Aaron Johnson
Johnson with the Calgary Flames in 2009
Born (1983-04-30) April 30, 1983 (age 41)
Port Hawkesbury, Nova Scotia, Canada
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 204 lb (93 kg; 14 st 8 lb)
Position Defence
Shot Left
Played for Columbus Blue Jackets
New York Islanders
Chicago Blackhawks
Calgary Flames
Edmonton Oilers
Boston Bruins
Adler Mannheim
Sheffield Steelers
NHL draft 85th overall, 2001
Columbus Blue Jackets
Playing career 2003–2021

Aaron Lindsay Johnson (born April 30, 1983) is a former Canadian professional ice hockey defenseman. Johnson last played under contract with the Sheffield Steelers in the Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL). Since 2021, he has worked as a team relations specialist for the NHL's Columbus Blue Jackets.

He was a third-round selection of the Columbus Blue Jackets, 85th overall, at the 2001 NHL Entry Draft. A journeyman, Johnson has played for the Blue Jackets, New York Islanders, Chicago Blackhawks, Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers and Boston Bruins in the NHL, and several minor league teams during his career. He was a member of the Memorial Cup champion Rimouski Océanic in 2000.

Playing career

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Johnson played four seasons of junior hockey in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) between 1999 and 2003. He played primarily for the Rimouski Océanic but finished his junior career with the Quebec Remparts.[1] He had 40 goals and 195 points in 252 games as a junior.[2] He was a member of Rimouski's President's Cup championship team that defeated the Hull Olympiques in the final.[3] Johnson appeared in one game at the 2001 Memorial Cup tournament as Rimouski went on to win the Canadian Hockey League championship.[4]

The Columbus Blue Jackets selected Johnson with their third round selection, 85th overall, at the 2001 NHL Entry Draft. He was assigned to the American Hockey League (AHL)'s Syracuse Crunch upon turning professional in 2003, but appeared in 29 games with the Blue Jackets in the 2003–04 NHL season.[1] He made his NHL debut on December 2, 2003, against the Anaheim Ducks and earned his first NHL point with an assist two nights later against the Nashville Predators.[2] He spent the majority of the following two seasons with the Crunch, but appeared in 26 games with Columbus in 2005–06 before earning a regular role with the team the following year, a season in which he scored three goals and 10 points in 61 games.[1]

Johnson left Columbus as a free agent, signing with the New York Islanders for the 2007–08 season. He appeared in 30 games for the Islanders, but missed 35 more due to a knee injury.[5] Allowed to go again to free agency, Johnson frequently switched teams as a journeyman defenceman. He signed with the Chicago Blackhawks for 2008–09 with whom he appeared in 35 games.[5] Chicago traded Johnson to the Calgary Flames on October 7, 2009, in exchange for Kyle Greentree.[6] A series of injuries to Calgary's defencemen gave Johnson an opportunity to play,[7] but he was on the move again after 22 games with the Flames.[1]

Calgary sent Johnson to the Edmonton Oilers, along with a draft pick, in exchange for Steve Staios on March 3, 2010. The trade was notable for being the first time the two Battle of Alberta rivals completed a trade in the Flames' 30-year history.[8] Johnson appeared in 19 games for the Oilers and recorded seven points.[1] Leaving the Oilers, Johnson played the entire 2010–11 season in the AHL with the Milwaukee Admirals, before returning to the Blue Jackets for the 2011–12 season where he recorded a career high 16 points in 56 games.[5] Following a ten-game stint with the Boston Bruins in 2012–13, Johnson signed with the New York Rangers for the 2013–14 season.[2] He was assigned to their AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack and named the team captain. Hartford was the 12th different team Johnson played for in his professional career.[9]

On July 3, 2014, Johnson left the Rangers organization after one season and agreed to a one-year contract as a free agent with the Ottawa Senators.[10] He was assigned to their AHL affiliate the Binghamton Senators, where he was also named captain.

On September 25, 2015, Johnson, as a free agent, returned to the Calgary Flames organization, agreeing to a one-year AHL contract with affiliate, the Stockton Heat.[11]

On June 17, 2016, Johnson signed his first contract overseas, a one-year contract with Adler Mannheim of the German top-tier Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL).[12] On March 17, 2017, Johnson signed a one-year contract extension with Mannheim.[13]

On July 26, 2018, Johnson left Germany after two years and agreed as a free agent to a two-year deal with English club the Sheffield Steelers of the EIHL.[14]

Johnson was due to remain in Sheffield for the 2020-21 season as a player/assistant coach, but the campaign was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.[15][16] In July 2021, Sheffield confirmed Johnson would not return to the club.[17]

In October 2021, Johnson began working as a team relationship specialist for the NHL team which first drafted him, the Columbus Blue Jackets.[18]

Medal record
Ice hockey
Representing  Canada
Spengler Cup
Gold medal – first place 2015 Davos

Career statistics

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1998–99 Cape Breton West Eagles AAA NSMMHL 56 28 42 70 98 — — — — —
1999–2000 Rimouski Océanic QMJHL 63 1 14 15 57 8 0 0 0 0
2000–01 Rimouski Océanic QMJHL 64 12 41 53 128 11 2 4 6 35
2001–02 Rimouski Océanic QMJHL 68 17 49 66 172 7 1 2 3 12
2002–03 Rimouski Océanic QMJHL 25 4 20 24 41 — — — — —
2002–03 Québec Remparts QMJHL 32 6 31 37 41 11 4 4 8 25
2003–04 Syracuse Crunch AHL 49 6 15 21 83 7 2 3 5 27
2003–04 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 29 2 6 8 32 — — — — —
2004–05 Syracuse Crunch AHL 77 6 17 23 140 — — — — —
2005–06 Syracuse Crunch AHL 49 5 24 29 122 6 1 3 4 19
2005–06 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 26 2 6 8 23 — — — — —
2006–07 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 61 3 7 10 38 — — — — —
2007–08 New York Islanders NHL 30 0 2 2 30 — — — — —
2007–08 Bridgeport Sound Tigers AHL 2 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
2008–09 Rockford IceHogs AHL 2 0 1 1 4 — — — — —
2008–09 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 38 3 5 8 33 — — — — —
2009–10 Calgary Flames NHL 22 1 2 3 19 — — — — —
2009–10 Edmonton Oilers NHL 19 3 4 7 16 — — — — —
2010–11 Milwaukee Admirals AHL 72 9 26 35 70 13 1 2 3 16
2011–12 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 56 3 13 16 26 — — — — —
2012–13 Boston Bruins NHL 10 0 0 0 10 — — — — —
2012–13 Providence Bruins AHL 2 0 1 1 2 — — — — —
2013–14 Hartford Wolf Pack AHL 75 4 36 40 70 — — — — —
2014–15 Binghamton Senators AHL 73 6 29 35 76 — — — — —
2015–16 Stockton Heat AHL 28 3 15 18 20 — — — — —
2016–17 Adler Mannheim DEL 41 4 15 19 28 4 0 0 0 0
2017–18 Adler Mannheim DEL 46 1 6 7 18 3 0 1 1 0
2018–19 Sheffield Steelers EIHL 56 4 19 23 89 2 0 2 2 0
2019–20 Sheffield Steelers EIHL 17 1 5 6 20 — — — — —
NHL totals 291 17 45 62 227 — — — — —

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Aaron Johnson player card". National Hockey League. Archived from the original on April 4, 2009. Retrieved December 9, 2013.
  2. ^ a b c "Rangers agree to terms with defenseman Aaron Johnson". New York Rangers Hockey Club. July 5, 2013. Archived from the original on December 2, 2013. Retrieved December 9, 2013.
  3. ^ Demers, Denis, ed. (2013). 2013–14 QMJHL Media Guide. Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. p. 120.
  4. ^ "Blue Jackets Sunday Gathering: Aaron Johnson returns as player 'concierge', who will answer the bell, and more". The Athletic. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
  5. ^ a b c "Aaron Johnson profile". Hockey Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on April 3, 2014. Retrieved December 9, 2013.
  6. ^ "Flames acquire Johnson from Hawks for Greentree". The Sports Network. October 7, 2009. Archived from the original on December 2, 2013. Retrieved October 7, 2009.
  7. ^ Cruickshank, Scott (December 13, 2009). "Flames extra enjoys moment in spotlight". Calgary Herald. Archived from the original on December 13, 2013. Retrieved December 9, 2013.
  8. ^ "Oilers send Staios to Flames for Johnson, draft pick". The Sports Network. March 3, 2010. Archived from the original on November 9, 2013. Retrieved March 5, 2009.
  9. ^ Doyle, Paul (November 13, 2013). "Aaron Johnson's long, strange trip leads to Hartford". Hartford Courant. Archived from the original on December 11, 2013. Retrieved December 9, 2013.
  10. ^ "Senators sign defenseman Aaron Johnson to one-year, two-way contract". Ottawa Senators. July 3, 2014. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  11. ^ "Heat sign Johnson to AHL contract as Calgary assigns seven". Stockton Heat. September 25, 2015. Retrieved September 25, 2015.
  12. ^ "Aaron Johnson strengthens Eagles defense". Adler Mannheim. June 17, 2016. Archived from the original on June 17, 2016. Retrieved June 17, 2016.
  13. ^ "Ronny Arendt finished his career". Adler Mannheim. March 28, 2017. Archived from the original on September 25, 2010. Retrieved May 21, 2017.
  14. ^ "Aaron Johnson completes the blueline". Sheffield Steelers. July 26, 2018. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
  15. ^ @steelershockey (July 2, 2020). "🍊 Breaking News: Steelers sign Aaron Johnson.After completing his MBA at the University of Sheffield Aaron Johnso…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  16. ^ "No Elite League Season 2020/21". August 21, 2019.
  17. ^ "No Return for Messrs: Johnson and Brocklehurst".
  18. ^ "Blue Jackets Sunday Gathering: Aaron Johnson returns as player 'concierge,' who will answer the bell, and more". The Athletic. October 31, 2021. Retrieved January 29, 2022.
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