Does HC Pascal Vincent Not Trust Kent Johnson?

Kent Johnson played in 79 games last season, scored 16, and had 40 points. He also averaged 14:30 TOI on an injury-ravaged team. Some people point out that if the CBJ hadn't absolutely needed his services last season, he would've spent a lot of time in Cleveland. Maybe so, but that's irrelevant now. 

His coach last year was Brad Larsen FWIW.

This season his coach is Pascal Vincent, and it's been a completely different story for the young Canadian from Port Moody, British Columbia. He started the season as a healthy scratch and then played a few days later. After playing 8 games and mustering just three points, he was sent down (up) to Cleveland where he went on a tear scoring 15 points in 10 games. Since being called back up in late November, Johnson has scored 5 goals and added 8 assists. 

This season Johnson is averaging 13:36 TOI, just slightly lower than last year. But this season he's had two games where he played just over 8 minutes, and then this past Saturday against the San Jose Sharks, he played just 6:57. His time was severely limited after being on the ice for a goal against the Sharks. He was parked for most of the game after that. Had this game been on at a normal time on the East Coast, there would've been more of a stink about it, but since this game didn't end until after 1:15 a.m. EST, it was largely glossed over. 

It's no secret that Kent Johnson, listed at 6', 178lbs could be a little stronger. But what he lacks in size he makes up for in creativity. When he has time and space he can make some magic happen, most notably last season when he pulled off a "Michigan Goal" at home against the New York Islanders. It legit blew the roof off of NWA. 

When will the training wheels come off for him? When will Vincent just let him play his game? This has been a lost season since week 3 of the schedule, and I get trying to teach him lessons and hold him accountable, but at some point, you have to turn him loose. These are critical years in his development and it does him no good to park him on the bench after a mistake. And when players like Patrik Laine and Adam Fantilli are out, Kent Johnson should be getting the time to play in those spots if needed instead of being benched. 

Is it a trust issue for Pascal Vincent? Will this behavior change now that Jarmo Kekäläinen is no longer their GM? 

Obviously, Johnson is not going to be scratched in favor of Mathieu Olivier, so there's only one thing left to do, and that's to play him more. And if they're going to choose not to play him, then send him to Cleveland so he can play meaningful minutes and games. 

What's Next - The CBJ travel to LA to face the Kings on Tuesday at 10:30 p.m.

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