Former Penguins forward Adam Johnson 'had an awesome attitude while he was here'

Bryan Rust didn’t get a chance to see Adam Johnson’s first — and, sadly only — NHL goal in person.

Rust was at home nursing a hand injury he suffered late in the 2019 preseason, and the Pittsburgh Penguins forward’s absence partially led to the team recalling Johnson, also a forward, from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League early in the 2019-20 season on Oct. 10.

Two nights later, Johnson, a native of Hibbing, Minn., cleaned up a rebound for a goal during a 7-4 road win against the Minnesota Wild to the roaring delight of countless family and friends.

“I was sitting at home watching the game,” Rust said Monday after his team’s morning skate at PPG Paints Arena. “Anytime you see a guy score his first goal, it’s incredible. It takes you back to the memories of scoring your own first goal.

“The celebration in his home state and seeing how excited everybody was for him, it was definitely a special memory.”

There were plenty of warm recollections offered by members of the Penguins who played with Johnson during his brief tenure with the club between the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons. There was also an immense element of disbelief as his former teammates discussed the 29-year-old who died Saturday while playing in the United Kingdom for the Nottingham Panthers of the Elite Ice Hockey League.

During a road contest against the Sheffield Steelers, a collision caused an opponent’s skates to strike Johnson in the neck, cutting him in a catastrophic manner. Johnson received medical attention on the ice and was transported to a hospital but succumbed to his injury.

His death was announced by the Panthers on Sunday morning.

Only nine members of the Penguins’ current roster played with Johnson, either at the NHL or AHL levels. Regardless, his presence was prominent Monday morning as the Penguins prepared to host the Anaheim Ducks.

Before the game, players on both teams stood with one another at center ice during a thorough and poignant video presentation in recognition of Johnson. Additionally, Penguins players wore decals with “AJ 47” on their helmets.

“It’s something that we’ve all been thinking about since finding out,” Penguins forward Sidney Crosby said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones. He’s just a great guy, a great teammate. Had an awesome attitude while he was here. Just genuinely happy to be playing in the NHL. It’s heartbreaking that that’s happened.”

Penguins defensemen Kris Letang and P.O Joseph played tennis with Johnson in the so-called “bubble” — a quarantined zone within Toronto that was necessary because of the pandemic — during the playoffs that were staged in summer 2020.

Joseph played substantially with Johnson as members of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the 2019-20 campaign.

“It’s definitely tough to see stuff like that happen, especially with old teammates,” Joseph said. “Adam was such a joyful person. I remember playing tennis with him in the bubble. Let me tell you, he was a good player. The way he carried himself, just a happy person in general.

“He was a good jokester. He liked to bring smiles around the room.”

On Monday, the English Ice Hockey Association, which oversees the EIHL, announced it would make neck guards mandatory for all on-ice activities — including practice — as of Dec. 31. In its statement, the EIHA indicated “it is not mandatory with immediate effect due to anticipated supply issues.”

There is little to indicate that type of change will happen anytime soon with the NHL or other North American leagues. For the NHL, such a measure would require approval from the league as well as the NHL Players’ Association.

Historically, the NHL has not been quick to such changes. After Minnesota North Stars defenseman Bill Masterton died as a result of striking his head on the ice in 1968, the league did not make helmets mandatory until 1979. And even then, a “grandfather” rule allowed players who were in the NHL before 1979 the option of playing without a helmet.

Letang, who serves as the Penguins representative to the NHLPA, didn’t dismiss the possibility of neck guards being mandated.

“You always keep evolving on different things,” Letang said. “The game is not going any slower. It’s going actually faster. I wouldn’t be surprised.”

The impact of Johnson’s death was felt in seemingly every corner of the hockey world, including Minnesota, the self-proclaimed “state of hockey.”

“For a southern state, football is the big thing,” said Ducks defenseman Jackson LaCombe, a native of Eden Prairie, Minn. “In Minnesota, it’s hockey. A lot of college (teams), a lot of high school hockey. It just means so much. And seeing something like that happen, it’s a shock on the whole community. It’s just really sad for us.”

For the most part on Monday, the Penguins didn’t want to focus on anything other than Johnson, the person.

“Super nice kid,” Rust said. “Always had a smile on his face. Came to the rink, worked hard. A little bit on the quieter side but always super nice. A kid that worked his (backside) off. Did everything he could to make it to this level.”

Coach Mike Sullivan used the term “privilege” twice while discussing Johnson.

“I don’t know if I have words to explain the whole circumstance,” Sullivan said. “It’s just an incredible tragedy. He’s a terrific kid. It was a privilege to be his coach.

“He was a great kid. He was a good player. Boy, he could really skate. As I said, it was a privilege to be his coach. There are no words I have to explain how I feel about it. It’s just an incredible tragedy.”