From stylistic comparisons to Toronto Maple Leafs star Mitch Marner, to production comparisons of Colorado Avalanche recent first rounder Alex Newhook, there absolutely is no denying that Kent Johnson is ridiculously good at hockey.
Johnson’s junior-A rookie season numbers were excellent, with 46 points in 57 games. He was a point-per-game player during the 2018 playoffs and there were definitely high expectations for him coming into this season.
He flat-out obliterated them.
Johnson broke the 100-point plateau and finished the season producing at nearly two points per game. He recorded 14 powerplay goals and another shorthanded. Eight of his goals were game-winners and Johnson played had three or more points in 15 games this season (seven games where he scored four or more points).
His offensive production drew comparisons to Newhook as a result. Newhook also broke the 100-point mark in the BCHL in his draft year before being drafted by the Avs and heading off for further development in the NCAA.
Though Newhook had a full and deep playoff run to add to his season’s totals, Johnson’s playoffs were cut short due to the pandemic. Trail, who was likely poised for an equally long playoff run, played just four postseason games, but Johnson did pick up seven points in that span.
Johnson’s late-2002 birthdate pushes his NHL draft eligibility to 2021, which means he will spend his draft year playing NCAA hockey at the University of Michigan next season (like what projected 2020-first rounder Dylan Holloway did this season at Wisconsin). Johnson’s older brother Kyle also took the college route, playing in the ECAC with Yale.
The Marner comparisons are drawn from Johnson’s ridiculously sublime puck control and crafty hands. Johnson’s instincts and ability to process the game are at a much higher level than a lot of his peers in the draft class. He sees opportunities that the majority of players do not, and he has the skill to capitalize. Johnson is a threat to score with or without the puck and can fool defenders with his shiftiness.
Johnson’s skating is excellent; his stride is quick and agile, and he can separate himself from opponents on the rush. It is also very fluid, and Johnson’s edges allow him to change directions quickly and spin off checking opponents to avoid contact in high traffic. He might benefit from a little bit more explosiveness in his first few steps, but by no means will it hold Johnson back at the next levels.
Though more of a playmaker than a sniper, Johnson is unafraid to take the puck to the net and can use his backhand or something more (evilly) creative like The Michigan (see the highlights below) to beat goalies. He also uses his hands and edges to find teammates with spinorama passes. The hallmark of Johnson’s game is his crafty and deceptive puck control. Defenders and goalies struggle to read Johnson and as a confident puck handler, Johnson is incredibly hard to predict.
As a multifaceted center who can play both special teams, it remains to be seen exactly where Johnson will slot into the Wolverines lineup this fall — and if he is deployed down the middle. Though definitely not undersized, Johnson will need to put on some weight as he prepares for older and stronger opponents next season to be a consistently dominant and dangerous producer in college hockey.
Strengths: Vision, Hands, Offense
To Improve: Strength, Adapting to NCAA
Quotables
Kent Johnson has torn up the BCHL for two years now, finishing last season with 101 points in just 52 games. While the BCHL is a junior A league and not quite as good as the WHL, his numbers in his draft-1 year are comparable to Alex Newhook’s draft year (103 points in 53 games). Next season Johnson will be taking his talents to Ann Arbor to help revive the University of Michigan’s hockey program after a down year. Johnson is consistently the smartest player on the ice and his skill is off the charts. He should step right into the Wolverines’ lineup in the fall and be an offensive catalyst. [Dobber Prospects]
As you’d expect from the gaudy stats, Johnson is a smooth, skilled offensive player with great hands and a nice shot… The closest comparison to Johnson in terms of BCHL prospects is probably Kyle Turris, who tallied 121 points in 53 games in his final year in the BCHL. That was Turris’ draft year, while Johnson is in his Draft-1 year, though Johnson is only two months younger than Turris was at the time. [SBN College Hockey]
Michigans
@umichhockey commit Kent Johnson does the Michigan flawlessly.#GoBlue pic.twitter.com/zNrecZwNHW
— Raine Hernandez (@BringerOfRaine) December 21, 2019
HE DID IT AGAIN! Kent Johnson scores the Michigan goal for the 2nd time this year to complete the hat trick in a crazy come-from-behind win for the @BCHLSmokeEaters! pic.twitter.com/FxaPbsievC
— BC Hockey League (@GoBCHL) February 8, 2020
Other Highlights
Kent Johnson absolutely EMBARRASSED this goalie in the Trail Smoke Eaters’ shootout win over Cowichan in the BCHL.
Johnson is a top 20 prospect for the #2021NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/wjykULnYxL
— TPEHockey (@TPEHockey) October 16, 2019
Kent Johnson currently leads the BCHL in points with a shocking 29TP in just 17GP at barely 17 y/o. He’s a super crafty, multi dimensional center who always puts the other team on their heels.
Johnson is my #10 for the #2021NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/l58luy9hFE
— TPEHockey (@TPEHockey) October 25, 2019
Kent Johnson is filthy#2021NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/sOWVikhV9h
— Steve Kournianos (@TheDraftAnalyst) December 8, 2019
Kent Johnson has hit 100 points in the BCHL at 17. An electrifying talent, Johnson has a ridiculous skill and IQ level that outclasses all of the BCHL. He’ll be off to the Univ of Michigan for his draft year next season.
52GP 41G 60A 101TP
Johnson is my #6 for the #2021NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/x3vCC61mG5
— TPEHockey (@TPEHockey) February 18, 2020
Related
21 Days of 2021 NHL Draft Prospects: Preview & Honorable Mentions
21 Days of 2021 NHL Draft Prospects: #21 — Corson Ceulemans
21 Days of 2021 NHL Draft Prospects: #20 — Luke Hughes
21 Days of 2021 NHL Draft Prospects: #19 — Oleksii Myklukha
21 Days of 2021 NHL Draft Prospects: #18 — Francesco Pinelli
21 Days of 2021 NHL Draft Prospects: #17 — Carson Lambos
21 Days of 2021 NHL Draft Prospects: #16 — Fabian Lysell
21 Days of 2021 NHL Draft Prospects: #15 — Matthew Beniers
21 Days of 2021 NHL Draft Prospects: #14 — Zachary Bolduc
21 Days of 2021 NHL Draft Prospects: #13 — James Malatesta
21 Days of 2021 NHL Draft Prospects: #12 — Ryder Korczak
21 Days of 2021 NHL Draft Prospects: #11 — Brandt Clarke
21 Days of 2021 NHL Draft Prospects: #10 — Zachary L’Heureux
21 Days of 2021 NHL Draft Prospects: #9 — Mason McTavish
21 Days of 2021 NHL Draft Prospects: #8 — Cameron Whynot
21 Days of 2021 NHL Draft Prospects: #7 — Brennan Othmann
21 Days of 2021 NHL Draft Prospects: #6 — Sasha Pastujov
21 Days of 2021 NHL Draft Prospects: #5 — Cole Sillinger
21 Days of 2021 NHL Draft Prospects: #4 — Chaz Lucius
21 Days of 2021 NHL Draft Prospects: #3 — Dylan Guenther
Statistics from Elite Prospects and the British Columbia Hockey League.
