Kent Johnson - Breakout Season?

[CBJx614]

I've been avoiding posting this as his sample size is still pretty small considering he missed a monthish due to his injury and I'm terrified this will be a jinx thread, but he looks like he's officially taken that next step his development. With the major hole in the lineup left by Gaudreau, KJ has seemingly filled it with no signs of looking back. He's averaging 1:30 of PK and 2:28 of PP time per game while averaging a total of 17 min of total TOI right now. I think he's solidified himself as a top 6 if not a top line, all situation winger in the NHL if he continues this pace.

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[CBJx614]

 

[Nikolajs Sillers]

I fell like more off Break in season.

 

[Marioesque]

It's great to see. We knew he had all the skill and it was a matter of time. Hoping he can avoid injuries

 

[Kshahdoo]

It's just 14 games, though. I mean Celebrini looked like a sure thing Calder winner after 14 games (at least for some people), but just 5 games later he doesn't anymore.

If Johnson keeps PPG+ pace after, say, 30 games, then yeah, we can start talking about him breaking through.

 

[SteelCityCannon]

Who knows if he keeps it up, but I don't ever recall seeing a player make such a jump in one off-season the way he has. He's a completely different guy.

 

[benfranklin]

Googling what team he plays on. Be right back.

 

[Cup or Bust]

No Surprise at all and fully expected he would take a step at some point. You could see this guy was loaded with talent since he entered the NHL.

 

[qc14]

He and McMichael went to the "shoot over 25%" school in the summer

 

[Toby91ca]

It's just 14 games, though. I mean Celebrini looked like a sure thing Calder winner after 14 games (at least for some people), but just 5 games later he doesn't anymore.

If Johnson keeps PPG+ pace after, say, 30 games, then yeah, we can start talking about him breaking through.

Huh? How different is the perspective on Celebrini now vs. 5 games ago....nothing has really changed. I get that he's gone a few games without scoring a goal, but that happens. He was 13pts after 14games and now 16pts after 19 games....not a huge swing to suggest he goes from sure thing to not so much

 

[Realgud]

Any chance they try him back at center at one point? Or are the CBJ satisfied with Monahan/Fantilli in their top 6?

 

[Viqsi]

Any chance they try him back at center at one point? Or are the CBJ satisfied with Monahan/Fantilli in their top 6?

At this point I expect he remains a winger.

 

[CBJx614]

It's just 14 games, though. I mean Celebrini looked like a sure thing Calder winner after 14 games (at least for some people), but just 5 games later he doesn't anymore.

If Johnson keeps PPG+ pace after, say, 30 games, then yeah, we can start talking about him breaking through.

The difference is celebrini is a rookie and Johnson has been in the league for a few years. Johnson was always a huge boom/bust player and for the first two seasons it looked like he might not put it all together. And it's not just his point production, he's doing all the small things. When he went out of the lineup the team looked visibly lost without him. He was looking like the key cog in the offense.

He and McMichael went to the "shoot over 25%" school in the summer

Oh his shooting percentage will definitely drop, but his scoring isn't what's making him look like a breakout candidate. He's excelling in his own end as well as offensively. He's been killing penalties and playing extremely well in his own end, almost Datsyukian like defensively (obviously not on his level just a stylistic comparison)

Any chance they try him back at center at one point? Or are the CBJ satisfied with Monahan/Fantilli in their top 6?

Maybe, maybe not. But I doubt. Sillinger is seemingly finding his next gear as well, with Voronkov as an extremely capable center and Lindstrom in the pipeline down the line. Hell Fantilli might be better at wing and could get pushed there at some point.

 

[Jovavic]

Jinx thread, come on guys, we know how this will go

 

[ORRFForever]

I mentioned him in another forum. Now he needs to light a fire under Fantilli.

 

[DudeWhereIsMakar]

He's another one of those players you need to see live to know how truly good they are.

I prefer to watch hockey live for that reason because you could have your eye on one guy and then suddenly you notice all the other things. But it's also because my eye isn't on the puck all the time it's mostly on what play could be made, where to pass or what needs to be done to get the puck in the net.

 

[SenzZen]

What’s his Michies/60?

 

[BKarchitect]

His two-way IQ has always been underrated because he won most of his plaudits as a prospect as a stick handling and offensive magician and he’s always been a skinny, finesse type of guy.

Usage and scoring-wise, I think he’s got the potential for to be a slightly bigger version of Jesper Bratt. PP1, PK2, not a heavy physical player but supreme hockey IQ and elite speed and stick work. Even if he were shooting 13% and not 27%, he’d have like 4-5 goals and 11-12 points in 14 games with a meaty special teams role….for a guy who just turned 22 and can make plays that very few have the skill to make. That’s a pretty special player.

 

[JPeeper]

Any chance they try him back at center at one point? Or are the CBJ satisfied with Monahan/Fantilli in their top 6?

They also have (a broken) Cayden Lindstrom in the pipeline. Doubt Johnson gets moved to C.

 

[SoundAndFury]

It's just 14 games, though. I mean Celebrini looked like a sure thing Calder winner after 14 games (at least for some people), but just 5 games later he doesn't anymore.

He has 2 points in half-a-game today, does he look like Calder winner again? Is that how it works?

Celebrini is Calder contender because his play looks great and few games without a point during what was a really tough stretch for the Sharks doesn't change that. And the same applies to Jonhson, points aside, he looks great. He commands the game and makes the difference offensively.

Usage and scoring-wise, I think he’s got the potential for to be a slightly bigger version of Jesper Bratt.

Announcers called him more dynamic Trevor Zegras (during the game against the Jets I think) and style-wise, I think that comparison works pretty well.

 

[Kshahdoo]

He has 2 points in half-a-game today, does he look like Calder winner again? Is that how it works?

Exactly. One day he isn't, the other day he is. It's always like this when they have under 30-40 games played.

 

[Drake1588]

The whole Columbus team is improving steadily and has been impressive for a while now. Johnson is a big part of that. Tonight's game was well played, heavy, responsible two-way hockey. The Metro is a crucible this year.

 

[Pablo El Perro]

Glad the BJs have some picks panning out. They deserve it.

 

[Fraser28]

It's just 14 games, though. I mean Celebrini looked like a sure thing Calder winner after 14 games (at least for some people), but just 5 games later he doesn't anymore.

If Johnson keeps PPG+ pace after, say, 30 games, then yeah, we can start talking about him breaking through.

Celebrini looked right next to Michkov then and he does now too. Not much of anything has changed.

 

[BlueGoose27]

They also have (a broken) Cayden Lindstrom in the pipeline. Doubt Johnson gets moved to C.

That Lindstrom pick scares me…too young to be hurt like this…back injuries at his age isn’t what you want to see. I’m hoping he can get healthy and stay healthy. Be a great fit in the middle for them.