The Chicago Blackhawks have signed Stanley Cup winning defenseman Jack Johnson to a one-year contract.
A Stanley Cup champion is heading to the Windy City.
The Chicago Blackhawks cut through the off-season malaise on Tuesday evening with a signing to add depth to their blueline, agreeing to terms with veteran defenseman Jack Johnson on a one-year contract reportedly worth $950,000.
The 2021-22 season was quite a campaign for Johnson. Not only did the Indianapolis native skate in his 1,000th NHL game last season, but Johnson also captured his first Stanley Cup after 16 years at hockey's highest level, surprisingly playing a regular role on the Colorado Avalanche's blueline for the majority of the playoffs after Samuel Girard was lost to injury.
In 74 games with the Avalanche last season, Johnson found the back of the net once while chipping in eight assists for nine points, all while logging a little under 17 minutes in ice time per night.
At this stage of his career, Johnson is no longer a regular NHL defenseman. The 35-year-old has been trending downward for quite some time and was only thrust into the Avalanche lineup during the postseason out of necessity. Even with how thin the Blackhawks' roster is, Johnson will likely bounce in and out of the top-six depending on the matchup.
Despite his limited skill set, however, Johnson didn't get caved in during his usage throughout the Avs' Cup run, which happened to be the most high-stakes hockey he'd ever played. Quite the opposite, actually.
Over the course of the playoffs, the Avalanche actually out-shot and out-chanced their opponents at even strength whenever Johnson was on the ice, with the team also drawing even in expected goals, as well. On a Blackhawks club that is not expected to be competitive in 2022-23, Johnson's veteran presence and knowledge as a journeyman who has kept his career alive against some pretty long odds recently should fit well.
And so, Johnson continues to stick around well after most had already written him out of the league.