Luke Johnson (ice hockey)

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Luke Johnson
Born (1994-09-19) September 19, 1994 (age 29)
Grand Forks, North Dakota, U.S.
Height 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight 179 lb (81 kg; 12 st 11 lb)
Position Center
Shoots Right
KHL team
Former teams		 Metallurg Magnitogorsk
Chicago Blackhawks
Minnesota Wild
NHL Draft 134th overall, 2013
Chicago Blackhawks
Playing career 2016–present

Luke Johnson (born September 19, 1994) is an American ice hockey center who is currently playing for Metallurg Magnitogorsk in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL).[1] Johnson was selected in the fifth round, 134th overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.

Prior to turning professional, Johnson played NCAA Division I hockey for the University of North Dakota. In his junior year, he helped North Dakota win the 2016 National Championship.

Playing career[edit]

While playing with the Lincoln Stars of the United States Hockey League, Johnson committed to the University of North Dakota.[2]

Johnson began his freshman season at the University of North Dakota during the 2013–14 season. He played in 42 games and led the team's rookies in goals with eight.[3] Johnson scored his first goal as a Fighting Sioux on November 9 in a 4–2 loss to Nebraska Omaha.[4] After recording six points in four games, Johnson was named NCHC Rookie of the Month for December.[5] Johnson helped guide the team to the 2013 NCAA Midwest Region semifinal where they lost in the Regional final to Yale.

In his sophomore year, Johnson recorded a new career high 24 points and 11 goals during his 42 game campaign. He participated in the 2015 Frozen Four and was named to the NCAA West Region All-Tournament Team.[3]

In his junior year, Johnson played in 43 games for the Fighting Sioux and matched his career high in goals. The Fighting Sioux again participated in the 2016 Frozen Four tournament but Johnson was injured in the second period of the semi-finals against Denver and was forced to miss the National Championship game against Quinnipiac. This was the only game he missed in his 127 game career with the Fighting Hawks.[6] Nonetheless, the Fighting Sioux beat Quinnipiac 5–1, winning the National Championship.[7] Johnson was again named to the NCAA Midwest Region All-Tournament Team[3] and later signed a three-year entry level contract with the Chicago Blackhawks on April 29, 2016.[8]

Professional[edit]

In his rookie season with the Rockford IceHogs, Johnson recorded 17 points in 73 games and was named the IceHog's Rookie of the Year.[9] In his second year with the team, he had an uptake in scoring which he attributes to changing his eating habits and focusing on his nutrition. He ended his second season with 30 points in 73 games.[10]

After playing two years with the Rockford IceHogs, Johnson made the Blackhawks 2018–19 opening night roster.[11] He subsequently made his NHL debut on October 4, against the Ottawa Senators.[12] Johnson was reassigned to the AHL on October 18 after playing in three games.[13] With the IceHogs, Johnson increased his scoring rate, improving his points totals with 18 goals and 31 points in 53 games. At the conclusion of the season, Johnson finishing his first season in the NHL registering 1 assist in 15 games.

As an impending restricted free agent, Johnson was not tendered a qualifying offer by the Blackhawks, releasing him as a free agent on June 25, 2019.[14] On the opening day of free agency, Johnson agreed to a two-year, two-way contract with the Minnesota Wild on July 1, 2019.[15]

On July 28, 2021, as a free agent from the Wild, Johnson was signed to a one-year, two-way contract with the Winnipeg Jets.[16] In the 2021–22 season, Johnson was assigned by the Jets to play exclusively with AHL affiliate, the Manitoba Moose, collecting 10 points through just 23 regular season games.

On August 10, 2022, having left the Jets as a free agent, Johnson continued his career in the AHL by agreeing to a one-year contract with the San Jose Barracuda.[17]

At the conclusion of his contract with the Barracuda, Johnson left North America and signed his first contract abroad in agreeing to a one-year deal with Russian club, Metallurg Magnitogorsk of the KHL on July 26, 2023.[18] He won the Gagarin Cup at the end of the season.

Personal life[edit]

Johnson comes from a hockey playing family; both his father, uncle, and cousin played collegiate hockey for the University of North Dakota. Johnson's father Steve played for the University of North Dakota from 1984 to 1988 where he was named a Hobey Baker Award finalist.[19][20] His cousin Paul LaDue currently plays for the Los Angeles Kings organization in the National Hockey League[11] and his younger brother was drafted by the Lincoln Stars in the 2016 USHL draft.[21]

Career statistics[edit]

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2009–10 Grand Forks Central High USHS 27 17 29 46 30 — — — — —
2010–11 Grand Forks Central High USHS 25 17 25 42 43 — — — — —
2011–12 Lincoln Stars USHL 55 20 35 55 52 8 1 1 2 2
2012–13 Lincoln Stars USHL 57 19 27 46 32 5 0 0 0 0
2013–14 U. of North Dakota NCHC 42 8 13 21 26 — — — — —
2014–15 U. of North Dakota NCHC 42 11 13 24 54 — — — — —
2015–16 U. of North Dakota NCHC 43 11 10 21 45 — — — — —
2016–17 Rockford IceHogs AHL 73 8 9 17 31 — — — — —
2017–18 Rockford IceHogs AHL 73 13 17 30 62 13 4 4 8 6
2018–19 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 15 0 1 1 8 — — — — —
2018–19 Rockford IceHogs AHL 53 18 13 31 34 — — — — —
2019–20 Iowa Wild AHL 42 18 13 31 43 — — — — —
2019–20 Minnesota Wild NHL 3 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
2020–21 Minnesota Wild NHL 14 1 0 1 5 — — — — —
2020–21 Iowa Wild AHL 2 0 1 1 5 — — — — —
2021–22 Manitoba Moose AHL 23 3 7 10 33 4 2 2 4 2
2022–23 San Jose Barracuda AHL 67 10 8 18 55 — — — — —
2023–24 Metallurg Magnitogorsk KHL 64 12 10 22 18 23 4 3 7 7
NHL totals 32 1 1 2 13 — — — — —
AHL totals 333 70 68 138 263 17 6 6 12 8

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Luke Johnson at eliteprospects.com". www.eliteprospects.com.
  2. ^ Mike G. Morreale (October 24, 2012). "McCoshen, McAdam among top USHL prospects". NHL.com. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
  3. ^ a b c "LUKE JOHNSON". fightinghawks.com. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  4. ^ "Mavericks hand North Dakota fourth straight loss". fightinghawks.com. November 9, 2013. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  5. ^ "KOVACS, JOHNSON TABBED NCHC DECEMBER MONTHLY AWARD HONOREES". nchchockey.com. December 31, 2013. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  6. ^ Brad Elliott Schlossman (April 10, 2016). "FROZEN FOUR NOTEBOOK: Luke Johnson misses first game of career". Grand Forks Herald. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  7. ^ Roumeliotis, Charlie (April 9, 2016). "Blackhawks: Nick Schmaltz, Luke Johnson help North Dakota win national title". nbcsports.com. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  8. ^ "Blackhawks, prospect Luke Johnson agree to three-year deal". chicagotribune.com. April 29, 2016. Retrieved October 3, 2018.
  9. ^ Reicher, Todd (April 15, 2017). "ICEHOGS ANNOUNCE 2016-17 TEAM AWARDS". secondcityhockey.com. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  10. ^ Greenfield, Jimmy (October 2, 2018). "'It's basically a tryout every day for me': Luke Johnson excited to make NHL debut but hopes it's just the beginning". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  11. ^ a b Brad Elliott Schlossman (October 3, 2018). "Two cousins from Grand Forks make NHL rosters". Grand Forks Herald. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
  12. ^ Fraser, Callum (October 4, 2018). "Blackhawks at Senators preview". NHL.com. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
  13. ^ Robinson, Chris (October 18, 2018). "BLACKHAWKS REASSIGN FORWARD LUKE JOHNSON TO ROCKFORD". icehogs.com. Retrieved October 19, 2018.
  14. ^ "Luke Johnson not qualified by Chicago". CBS Sports. June 25, 2019. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
  15. ^ "Wild signs Luke Johnson to two-year, two-way contract". Minnesota Wild. July 1, 2019. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  16. ^ "Jets sign forward Luke Johnson to one-year contract". Winnipeg Jets. July 28, 2021. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
  17. ^ "Barracuda sign forward Luke Johnson". San Jose Barracuda. August 10, 2022. Retrieved August 10, 2022.
  18. ^ "Luke Johnson joins Metallurg" (in Russian). Metallurg Magnitogorsk. July 26, 2023. Retrieved July 26, 2023.
  19. ^ Brad Elliott Schlossman (May 17, 2017). "Steve Johnson highlights Hall of Fame class at UND". Grand Forks Herald. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
  20. ^ Brad Elliott Schlossman (August 16, 2011). "UND MEN'S HOCKEY: Grand Forks' Luke Johnson says he'll play for UND". Grand Forks Herald. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
  21. ^ Gray, Tim (May 2, 2016). "USHL Phase I draft pick quick hits: The Stars call a familiar name". Lincoln Journal Star. Retrieved October 8, 2018.

External links[edit]

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