Over a month into the NHL offseason, the number of players signing professional tryout contracts (PTOs) is expected to surge soon, and the Minnesota Wild have made the first move. On Monday, they signed veteran defenseman Jack Johnson to a PTO. At 38, Johnson brings 19 seasons of NHL experience, having played 41 games for the Columbus Blue Jackets last season.
Hailing from Indianapolis, the 6-foot-1, 227-pound defenseman has used his physical presence effectively throughout his career. In 1,229 NHL games, he’s accumulated 1,931 hits, 1,831 blocked shots, and 639 penalty minutes. Offensively, he’s contributed 77 goals and 342 points, with a minus-127 rating.
Selected third overall by the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2005 NHL Draft, Johnson never played for them, as his rights were traded to the Los Angeles Kings in 2006. His career has seen him suit up for the Kings (2007-12), Blue Jackets (2012-18, 2024-25), Pittsburgh Penguins (2018-20), New York Rangers (2020-21), Colorado Avalanche (2021-23, 2023-24), and Chicago Blackhawks (2023-24). He won a Stanley Cup with Colorado in 2022, playing 13 games and recording 39 hits.
Before his NHL career, Johnson excelled at the University of Michigan, scoring 26 goals and 71 points over two seasons. In 2006-07, he set a school record for goals by a sophomore defenseman (16) and was named the CCHA Offensive Defenseman of the Year.
Internationally, Johnson has represented the U.S., notably earning a silver medal at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, where he recorded three assists and eight penalty minutes in six games.
The Wild entered the offseason with significant cap space after shedding the buyouts of Ryan Suter and Zach Parise but have been relatively quiet. Their biggest move was acquiring Vladimir Tarasenko in a trade with the Detroit Red Wings, primarily a cap-clearing deal. Their most notable free agent signing was center Nico Sturm to a two-year, $2 million-per-year contract, with other additions signed for under $1 million annually.
If Johnson performs well, he could secure a spot with the Wild for his 20th NHL season.
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