Wyatt Johnston has answered any questions about making the NHL after having no OHL action in his draft year. A lot went into his rookie year in The Show so far.
Not every path to the NHL is the same. That can certainly be said about the Dallas Stars’ emerging talent, Wyatt Johnston.
Aside from a seven-game stint at the U-18s in which he collected four points, Johnston played a total of zero games in his draft year due to the COVID-19 pandemic shutting down the OHL. The year prior, Johnston had 30 points in 53 games which is solid yet unspectacular production.
“It was a tough year. I was in the gym, working on getting bigger and stronger, and it wasn’t the easiest thing to do in Toronto because of COVID,” told The Hockey News. “I would drive out to Burlington to get on some ice or go out to outdoor rinks early to try and get on a fresh sheet.”
The Windsor Spitfires center was consistently ranked as a mid-late second-round prospect for the draft by just about every media outlet covering the draft. That didn’t stop the Dallas Stars from making Johnston the 23rd overall pick in the 2021 NHL draft.
After being drafted, the Stars' newest prospect was back in Windsor with a season of mystery ahead. Was the work he did off of the ice during the OHL shutdown going to pay off? Would the year off of hockey be detrimental? Did the Stars make a mistake?
None of that crossed Johnston’s mind.
“I was confident in myself. I knew that I was putting in the work off the ice in the gym and working on my own. Even though getting on the ice was hard, I was doing it more than most guys,” explained Johnston. “Talking to my agent, I was told that working on my strength and individual skills for a year wasn’t a bad thing so I focused on that, but I was ready to get back on the ice.”
Fast forward a few months later, Johnston was helping the Spitfires reach the OHL final against the Hamilton Bulldogs. It came after a season where he led the CHL in scoring with 124 points and took home some end-of-season honors including the Red Tilson Trophy as the OHL’s most outstanding player.
Although Windsor came up short, Johnston led the playoffs in scoring and helped an underdog Spits team push the heavily favored Bulldogs to Game 7. Johnston credited the year off for his development instead of blaming it for any setbacks. That mindset is what allowed him to take such a big step.
The next step was the Stars’ training camp. Having exhausted all he could have done at the OHL level, Johnston was looking to make the jump. The only problem was, at 19, he was destined for either the NHL or back to the OHL. Johnston went into camp seeking a roster spot.
“We have a great group here and a good mix of talent. I just want to be a part of it.” - Wyatt Johnston
“I didn’t know exactly what to expect,” said Johnston. “I knew that in the NHL, you can’t cheat, and you have to be in your position everywhere on the ice. It’s not as loose as junior, so I had to make sure I was handling my part there.”
Johnston made an outstanding impression in camp. He only had one assist in the pre-season, but the Stars picked up on his commitment to playing all facets of the game. The coaching staff knew they could insert him into the lineup and trust that he would do what was asked of him despite only being 19 years old.
In his NHL debut, Johnston notched his first NHL goal. Johnston buried a Tyler Seguin feed from a sharp angle before being mobbed by teammates in celebration.
In what has become one of the most heartwarming moments of the NHL season, Johnston’s parents were in attendance for his first NHL game. After scoring in his debut, he was an obvious candidate for the post-game interview. It wasn’t what was said in the interview that won the hearts of fans though, it was the small interaction between Johnston and his parents who were dancing in the stands across the ice from him. A quick wave and grin from ear to ear. It was that moment Stars fans fell in love with their 2021 first-rounder.
“My mom was dancing and I couldn’t help but laugh a bit. It was great that they were there and means so much for them to see my first game and first goal,” said Johnston.
His relationship with his parents helped him through the lost season in the OHL. It helped him keep a level head through his youth and junior hockey career. Having them see their son live out his dream of playing in the NHL was a moment that meant more to Johnston than he could explain.
“My parents have done so much for me,” he said. “All of the sacrifices they made. The encouragement they’ve given me for years. It’s pretty special. I don’t know if they know how much I appreciate them and what they did for me. I don’t think I’ll be able to express it to them until I have kids of my own one day.”
The Dallas Stars rookie has played in all of the team’s 32 games, and he’s collected 12 points in that time. His seven goals are tied for third among NHL rookies. Johnston is also posting good shot differentials.
The more he plays, the more confident Johnston seems to become. All of that came to the forefront against Ottawa on Dec. 8.
With the game in overtime, Johnston was sent over the boards with Tyler Seguin. The Stars' young gun was playing with one of their most seasoned players in an attempt to end the game.
Just like that, a 2-on-1 developed for Johnston and Seguin.
“I was actually pretty pissed off at myself,” Johnston said. “It was a 2-on-1 and I sent a pretty brutal pass over to Seguin, it was a couple of feet in the air and he went into the corner with it.
“I was just thinking ‘Damn, I can’t let this go back the other way,’ so I got going and made sure to hunt the puck down and get it back. Tyler was right in front so I made the easy pass. It felt pretty great.”
Johnston plays with speed and skill, tools that are obvious at first glance. There have been several times this season when both have been on display. Plays like this show the intellect and effort that the teenager plays with. Chasing a player down the way he does to Sanderson and stripping the puck with such ease is a play most NHL veterans don’t make.
Johnston isn’t cheating. He isn’t allowing himself to fall into the habits of the “loose” junior game that allowed him to score 124 points in the OHL last year. That’s what earned him the trust of coach Pete DeBoer and allowed him to get into the overtime, a position many rookies aren’t afforded.
“It means a lot to have that trust,” Johnston said. “Knowing that they want me to play in those big moments and can rely on me to work hard is great. It’s a special group, and being part of it is fun. I just want to contribute and make sure I’m doing my part for the team.”
Johnston is taking advantage of his opportunities. He is playing just over 14 minutes per game and is currently centering the team’s third line. Johnston has cemented a role in the Stars lineup.
He is still eligible to play in the Under-20 World Junior Championship for Canada over the holidays and despite other players such as Shane Wright and Brandt Clarke being lent to the squad, Johnston remains in Texas. He’s been too important for the Stars.
“I just want to contribute to this team and help them win a Stanley Cup,“ Johnston said. “That’s what it’s all about, right? We have a great group here and a good mix of talent. I just want to be a part of it.”
What more could you ask for from a 19-year-old? Johnston was entrusted with a roster spot, and he’s done nothing to let it go.