C Kent Johnson - Cleveland Monsters, AHL (2021, 5th, CBJ)

[Zaddy]

My thoughts are that I’m surprised it isn’t 10-0. Johnson is an astronomically better prospect than Guenther and has the highest offensive upside in the class. If he slips outside the top 5 it’ll be the pick of the draft.

Upside isn't everything. It's easy to be an armchair scout and put guys with high upside at the top of your rankings but if you're an NHL scout the most important part is to get an actual useful NHL player out of the draft. With Guenther you know what you're going to get, with Johnson there's a lot more variability involved.

I think there's a good reason why Johnson is rated outside the top5 on pretty much every list. If you look beyond the flash there are many things in his game that are somewhat concerning and that you have to take into account as you try and project him at the NHL level.

 

[German Hockey]

Upside isn't everything. It's easy to be an armchair scout and put guys with high upside at the top of your rankings but if you're an NHL scout the most important part is to get an actual useful NHL player out of the draft. With Guenther you know what you're going to get, with Johnson there's a lot more variability involved.

I think there's a good reason why Johnson is rated outside the top5 on pretty much every list. If you look beyond the flash there are many things in his game that are somewhat concerning and that you have to take into account as you try and project him at the NHL level.

Do you have an explanation why in the poll of 10 NHL scouts 8 NHL scouts opted for Kent Johnson and only 2 NHL scouts opted for Guenther?
How can those 8 NHL scouts have missed the "many things in his game that are somewhat concerning"?

 

[Zaddy]

Do you have an explanation why in the poll of 10 NHL scouts 8 NHL scouts opted for Kent Johnson and only 2 NHL scouts opted for Guenther?
How can those 8 NHL scouts have missed the "many things in his game that are somewhat concerning"?

That quote was in reference to Johnson being ranked outside the top5.

Some scouts have more tolerance for risk than others. And some scouts may not see Johnson's weaknesses as a big deal while perhaps the ones who favour Guenther do see it that way, or possibly they may even think Guenther has higher upside, or at least is more likely to reach it. I don't know what their exact thought processes are, you'd have to ask them.

NHL scouts opinions vary wildly. It's entirely possible that if you polled 10 different scouts the result might be in favour of Guenther. For instance, Bob McKenzie's list (which is polled from NHL scouts) have Guenther at #2 and Johnson at #8. So it really depends on who you ask.

 

[bsu]

Kent Johnson skating reminds me of Dylan Strome his draft year... Johnson is a little better but they both glide way too much and stop moving their feet.

 

[HockeyWooot]

I agree that Kent Johnson is a wildcard. Huge upside but not an slamdunk top 3 pick, too many question marks in his game.

It comes down to the scouting departments view on whether the holes in his game are fixable and ultimately projects as an NHL player.

Those saying he’s Zegras for this draft might be right, but almost seems like a lazy comparison. If those comparisons to Mike Ribeiro are more accurate, do you still take him?

If he’s still there when the Canucks pick him at 9 at they take him I’d be stoked, but also not overly disappointed if they passed on him.

 

[bsu]

I'd say he becomes a Krejci type but a little more flair.

He does not have Zegras skating, hips, flexibility and agility (in skating)

I think Perfetti had similar concerns to Johnson in regards to skating as well.

 

[BCNate]

Most mock drafts and rankings have him going to the Canucks at #9. I'd be stoked to get him there. We aren't going to get a perfect prospect at our spot, but I really like his upside and potential fit on Horvats wing.

 

[GetFocht]

I'd say he becomes a Krejci type but a little more flair.

He does not have Zegras skating, hips, flexibility and agility (in skating)

I think Perfetti had similar concerns to Johnson in regards to skating as well.

Sounds about right coming from a Zegras fan boy.

 

[bert]

I'd say he becomes a Krejci type but a little more flair.

He does not have Zegras skating, hips, flexibility and agility (in skating)

I think Perfetti had similar concerns to Johnson in regards to skating as well.

If he is as good as Krejci he should be a top 5 pick. Your description of his skating makes me think he shouldn't even be a first rounder. His Edgework is better than Stromes, that I am positive about. Looks better than perfetti too. Seems to me you're giving an innacurate account of his skating from what I have seen. Hated stromes skating in his draft year, stood out immediately to me when I watched. Johnsons didn't. He has other holes in his game for sure but I don't think skating is the major concern. Krejci is way harder than him.

 

[bsu]

They both look like... I don't even know how to explain it but that they are kinda skating in "sand" they keep their feet on the ground for way too long. That's the best way I can describe it, it's like their feet get stuck before they can lift it up for another stride.

Johnsons biggest issue is he glides too much and doesn't take strides when stick handling as much as he should. Mittelstadt had the same thing going on.

 

[covfefe]

I agree that Kent Johnson is a wildcard. Huge upside but not an slamdunk top 3 pick, too many question marks in his game.

It comes down to the scouting departments view on whether the holes in his game are fixable and ultimately projects as an NHL player.

Those saying he’s Zegras for this draft might be right, but almost seems like a lazy comparison. If those comparisons to Mike Ribeiro are more accurate, do you still take him?

If he’s still there when the Canucks pick him at 9 at they take him I’d be stoked, but also not overly disappointed if they passed on him.

Ribeiro was a top shelf offensive performer who had serious substance issues that derailed his career from the beginning. Yet even with those, he had a hugely successful hockey career. will toe the line here but everything that I have read, heard, and spoken to friends in the scouting community tells me that he’s a dedicated and responsible kid.

so f*** yeah, if the upside is Ribeiro less substance abuse, you take him. Not even a question in my mind.

People massively overweight draft slots. If you can pick up a guy who will put up 800 career points over 1000+ games at #8-12, you should be sprinting to the podium.

 

[bsu]

Btw I don't wanna sound like I don't like him as a prospect, I would take him 8-10 easily.

 

[Rzombo4 prez]

They both look like... I don't even know how to explain it but that they are kinda skating in "sand" they keep their feet on the ground for way too long. That's the best way I can describe it, it's like their feet get stuck before they can lift it up for another stride.

Johnsons biggest issue is he glides too much and doesn't take strides when stick handling as much as he should. Mittelstadt had the same thing going on.

Ignoring Johnson for a moment, I think you could say that about 90% of draft-eligible forwards. Just look at transition scoring in junior hockey.

 

[Breomike]

Hoping he falls to Ottawa at 10.

 

[EatSleepBreatheHKY]

Dynamic Player!

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

Any chance Trail can be changed to University of Michigan on the thread title before he is drafted?

 

[danyhabsfan]

Reminds me of Gaudreau

 

[rt]

 

[LeProspector]

Arizona is smart for doing so.

You already know they have the second round picks

 

[Realgud]

Smart. Johnson is the guy to go for in this draft imo.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

okay? Its a draft. I can get taken before 9th. Then what

 

[Ser Grogu]

okay? Its a draft. I can get taken before 9th. Then what

Hi Kent

 

[405Entrance]

okay? Its a draft. I can get taken before 9th. Then what

Too high for 1-4, 5, 6, 7 seem plausible, 8 not really kings are stacked at C they would be better off going with a d-man. Yeah 9 seems reasonable depends how, Hughes, guenther, edvisson, and clarke go

 

[SelltheTeamFrancesco]

I like it listening to interviews. I think he is going to a hell of player because he working on his faults and understanding what needs to be changed in his game. He is the guy I wanted at 9.

 

[MMC]

Welcome to Columbus