Penguins A to Z: Adam Johnson has speed, but what's his future?
While the NHL is on hold because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the Tribune-Review will offer Penguins A to Z, a player-by-player look at all 55 individuals under NHL contract with the organization, from mid-level prospect Niclas Almari to high-profile trade acquisition Jason Zucker.
Player: Adam Johnson
Position: Center
Shoots: Left
Age: 25
Height: 6-foot
Weight: 174 pounds
2019-20 NHL statistics: Seven games, two points (one goal, one assist)
2019-20 AHL statistics: 48 games, 34 points (10 goals, 24 assists)
Contract: One-year, two-way contract with a salary cap hit of $700,000. Pending unrestricted free agent this upcoming offseason.
Acquired: Undrafted free agent signing, July 6, 2017
This season: Johnson appeared to get things started right in the first game of the preseason, a 5-4 overtime loss to the Buffalo Sabres at Penn State’s Pegula Arena on Sept. 16, when he forced veteran Sabres defenseman Marco Scandella into a turnover and converted it into a nifty breakaway goal against goaltender Jonas Johnasson.
Unfortunately for him, Johnson, who is listed as a center but primarily used as a winger, suffered an undisclosed injury in that same contest and was sidelined for the remainder of the preseason, prompting him to be assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton by the conclusion of training camp.
After getting two assists in his first game of the regular season for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in a 4-3 road win against the Hershey Bears on Oct. 5, Johnson was recalled by the NHL team when injuries to forwards Nick Bjugstad and Evgeni Malkin created a void.
Johnson immediately appeared to show he had made substantial progress over the seven games he appeared in as a rookie in 2018-19.
During a 7-4 road win against the Minnesota Wild on Oct. 12, the Minnesota-born Johnson netted two points, including his first career goal.
(Video courtesy NHL)
Inhabiting a fourth-line role throughout October, Johnson remained in the lineup through that month but failed to record another point.
After another undisclosed injury sidelined him for two games, Johnson was assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton when Bjugstad as well as forwards Bryan Rust and Alex Galchenyuk — each sidelined from preseason ailments — returned to the lineup.
In the AHL, Johnson was arguably the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins’ best player. With that league cancelling play, Johnson finished as Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s top scorer.
(Video courtesy Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins)
Even with that success, Johnson was never recalled to the NHL club after October. While injuries ravaged the lineup, the likes of forwards such as Joseph Blandisi, Thomas Di Pauli and Stephan Noesen all saw time in the NHL while Johnson remained in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
The future: Johnson seems to have the main attribute the Penguins value above all else: speed.
One of the fastest players in the organization, his tenacious style regularly allows him to win races to loose pucks.
Despite that, management appeared hesitant to give him another chance in the lineup despite so many injuries in the NHL lineup throughout 2019-20.
Beyond his skating, he is limited with the puck. And while the NHL isn’t a big man territory anymore, the minuscule Johnson often finds himself on the wrong end of physical battles.
In the short term, should the NHL resume this season with expanded rosters, Johnson figures to be a candidate for a recall. Long term, his status is a question mark as a pending unrestricted free agent.
Seth Rorabaugh is a TribLive reporter covering the Pittsburgh Penguins. A North Huntingdon native, he joined the Trib in 2019 and has covered the Penguins since 2007. He can be reached at srorabaugh@triblive.com.
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