Brent Johnson

Brent Spencer Johnson (born March 12, 1977) is an American former professional ice hockey goaltender. He played in the National Hockey League for the St. Louis Blues, Phoenix Coyotes, Washington Capitals, and the Pittsburgh Penguins. He is currently a studio analyst for NBC Sports Washington.

For other people named Brent Johnson, see Brent Johnson (disambiguation).

Brent Johnson
Johnson with the Washington Capitals in 2008
Born (1977-03-12) March 12, 1977[1]
Farmington, Michigan, U.S.
Height 6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight 199 lb (90 kg; 14 st 3 lb)
Position Goaltender
Caught Left
Played for St. Louis Blues
Phoenix Coyotes
Washington Capitals
Pittsburgh Penguins
NHL Draft 129th overall, 1995
Colorado Avalanche[2]
Playing career 1997–2012

Playing career
Olaf Kölzig and Brent Johnson in a 2007–08 Capitals practice session at the Kettler Ice Center in Arlington, Virginia.

As a youth, Johnson played in the 1991 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with a minor ice hockey team from Fraser, Michigan.[3]

Originally a fifth round 1995 draft pick of the Colorado Avalanche, Johnson started his NHL career with the St. Louis Blues in the 1998–1999 season.[4] He played there until he was traded during the 2003–04 season to the Phoenix Coyotes. Johnson was signed by the Vancouver Canucks prior to the start of the 2005–06 season, but was soon claimed on waivers by the Capitals, where he played behind both Olaf Kölzig and José Théodore.[5][6]

Johnson is the grandson of NHL Hall of Famer Sid Abel and the son of former NHL goaltender Bob Johnson.[7] Brent Johnson was in goal for the Capitals on February 4, 2006, when they played against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Lightning's goaltender for the game was John Grahame, the son of former NHL goaltender Ron Grahame. According to the Capitals, this game was the first occasion where two second-generation NHL goaltenders competed against each other.[8]

For the week ending November 9, 2008, Johnson was named the NHL Third Star of the Week by helping the Capitals collect five points in three games (each consecutive starts). He went 2–0–1 with a 1.63 GAA and a .953 save percentage.

He underwent hip surgery in February 2009 and was expected to be out of action two months.[9]

Johnson was deemed expendable by Washington after the emergence of young goalie Semyon Varlamov. On July 21, 2009, Johnson was signed as a free agent to a one-year contract by the Pittsburgh Penguins to back-up Marc-André Fleury.[10] After helping the Penguins to 10 wins in 23 games for the 2009–10 season he was signed to a two-year extension with Pittsburgh, through to the 2011–12 season on April 13, 2010.[11] On February 2, 2011, Johnson had his first fight in the NHL when he engaged with Rick DiPietro in a fight after DiPietro and Matt Cooke collided near the goal crease. Johnson skated over to DiPietro, ignoring the referee waving him off, and took DiPietro down with one punch. It was later found out that DiPietro suffered facial fractures from the punch. Johnson received leaving crease and game misconduct penalties. The next game against the Islanders (9 days later), Johnson once again in goal, fought with Islanders center Micheal Haley along with Penguins forward Eric Godard who left the bench to assist his goaltender.

Brent Johnson, October 2011.

In the last year of his contract with the Penguins, during the 2011–12 season, Johnson struggled to repeat his impressive earlier form and suffered his worst season in Pittsburgh.[12] With just six wins, he was subsequently not tendered a new contract by the Penguins and was released to free agency.[13]

Personal

He married Erica Danielle Ence of Burke, Virginia on August 11, 2007.[14] The couple have two daughters.

Johnson is the grandson of NHL Hall of Famer Sid Abel and the son of former Penguins' goaltender Bob Johnson.

Johnson is also a fan of the English rock band Led Zeppelin, and often paid tribute to the band in the artwork on his goalie masks.[15]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GPWLTOTLMINGASOGAASV% GPWLMINGASOGAASV%
1993–94 Detroit Compuware Ambassadors NAHL 18 ————10244913.52— ————————
1994–95 Owen Sound Platers OHL 18391—9049504.98— ————————
1995–96 Owen Sound Platers OHL 5824281—321124314.54.884 6243712904.69—
1996–97 Owen Sound Platers OHL 5020281—279820114.31.891 4042532405.69—
1997–98 Worcester IceCats AHL 4214157—224011903.19.899 6323321903.43.885
1998–99 Worcester IceCats AHL 4922224—292514622.99.896 4132381203.03.916
1998–99 St. Louis Blues NHL 6320—2861002.10.921 ————————
1999–00 Worcester IceCats AHL 5824275—331916132.91.911 9455612312.46.931
2000–01 St. Louis Blues NHL 311992—17446342.17.907 20162201.94.944
2001–02 St. Louis Blues NHL 5834204—349112752.18.902 10555901831.83.929
2002–03 Worcester IceCats AHL 2011—125803.84.880 ————————
2002–03 St. Louis Blues NHL 3816135—20428522.47.900 ————————
2003–04 Worcester IceCats AHL 8222—3651402.30.910 ————————
2003–04 St. Louis Blues NHL 10431—4932012.43.901 ————————
2003–04 Phoenix Coyotes NHL 8161—4862102.59.914 ————————
2005–06 Washington Capitals NHL 26912—114138113.43.905 ————————
2006–07 Washington Capitals NHL 30615—716449903.61.889 ————————
2007–08 Hershey Bears AHL 101—059303.04.925 ————————
2007–08 Washington Capitals NHL 1978—21032 4602.67.908 ————————
2008–09 Washington Capitals NHL 16104—29023702.46.908 ————————
2009–10 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 23106—111085102.76.906 10031101.91.857
2010–11 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 23135—312974712.17.922 10034407.06.636
2011–12 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 1667—28114203.11.883 10020206.00.667
NHL totals 309140112131816,978744142.63.904 15567382732.20.914

See also

References
  1. "Brent Johnson Stats". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved December 29, 2019.
  2. "NHL Entry Draft Year by Year Results". National Hockey League.
  3. "Pee-Wee players who have reached NHL or WHA" (PDF). Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 6, 2019. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  4. "Brent Johnson profile". NHL.com. Retrieved February 19, 2012.
  5. "Capitals Re-Sign Goaltender Brent Johnson to a Two-Year Contract Extension". Washington Capitals. January 12, 2007. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
  6. Marine, Troy (November 11, 2008). "Jose Theodore—Brent Johnson; Is there a goalie controversy in DC?". Bleacher Report. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
  7. "Legendsofhockey – Brent Johnson". legendsofhockey.net. August 14, 2010. Retrieved August 14, 2010.
  8. "Grahame gets another shutout as Bolts beat Caps". ESPN. February 4, 2006. Retrieved October 2, 2009.
  9. "Washington Capitals goalie Brent Johnson needs hip surgery, out 6-8 weeks". Sports Illustrated. February 5, 2009. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
  10. "Pens sign Goaltender Brent Johnson". Pittsburgh Penguins. July 21, 2009. Retrieved August 14, 2010.
  11. "Penguins sign Johnson to two-year contract extension". Pittsburgh Penguins. April 13, 2010. Retrieved April 15, 2010.
  12. "Penguins have faith in struggling back-up Johnson". NBC Sports. February 20, 2012. Retrieved February 20, 2012.
  13. O'Brien, James (September 23, 2012). "Brent Johnson hopes his career won't end amid a lockout". NBC Sports. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
  14. Nichols, Chris (September 24, 2012). "Nichols: Oilers the mystery team for Luongo?". Sportsnet. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
  15. Wyshynski, Greg (February 24, 2012). "Whole lotta love for Penguins goalie Brent Johnson's Led Zeppelin-inspired mask". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
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