Mar 20, 2025; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Jack Johnson (3) during the second period against the Florida Panthers at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russell LaBounty-Imagn Images. [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/24ca6e5d-e1cf-4b47-bc7c-b2b1a9453a80.jpeg] Mar 20, 2025; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Jack Johnson (3) during the second period against the Florida Panthers at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russell LaBounty-Imagn Images. The Minnesota Wild [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/minnesota-wild] made a move on Monday. The Wild have announced they have signed defenseman Jack Johnson to a professional tryout (PTO). Johnson, 38, played in 41 games with the Columbus Blue Jackets [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/columbus-blue-jackets] last season. He recorded six assists, 35 blocked shots, 21 hits and was a minus-13. The 6-foot-1 defender has played 19 seasons in the NHL with six different teams. He has recorded 77 goals, 265 assists, 342 points, 1,831 blocked shots, 1,931 hits and is a career minus-127 in 1,228 games. He won a Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/colorado-avalanche] in 2022. Johnson is one of six players from the 2005 NHL Draft that are still playing today. Sidney Crosby, Anze Kopitar, Kris Letang, Jonathan Quick, and Ryan Reaves are the others. WHY JOHNSON? The Wild have Jake Middleton, Jonas Brodin, and Zeev Buium under contract as left-shot defensemen. But, Brodin is expected to miss the start of the season. Carson Lambos, who has yet to play an NHL game, is likely the next available guy. If they don't view Lambos as an NHLer and Brodin could miss more time than expected, the Wild could sign Johnson to an NHL contract as insurance. Right now, he comes into training camp on a tryout. OTHER WILD NEWS Wild Defenseman Jonas Brodin Had Surgery, Could Miss Start Of Season [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/1fef959e-234a-4262-b152-16b15c48c8e6.jpeg] Wild Defenseman Jonas Brodin Had Surgery, Could Miss Start Of Season <b>ST. PAUL, Minn -</b> The Minnesota Wild could be without its top defenseman for the start of the 2025-26 season. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/minnesota-wild/latest-news/wild-defenseman-jonas-brodin-had-surgery-could-miss-start-of-season] Revisiting My 2024-25 Minnesota Wild Bold Predictions [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/b99be40d-fa1e-4a07-89dd-6fa1e6d99cde.jpeg] Revisiting My 2024-25 Minnesota Wild Bold Predictions Before the 2024-25 season started<a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/minnesota-wild/latest-news/bold-predictions-for-the-2024-25-minnesota-wild-season"> I wrote some bold predictions</a> for the Minnesota Wild. I think it is time to look back on them and see what was correct, if any and what came close. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/minnesota-wild/latest-news/revisiting-my-2024-25-minnesota-wild-bold-predictions] Where Wild's Zeev Buium Ranks In Calder Trophy Voting [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/aa5a0580-860d-4044-9cd4-9427ce9fe78a.jpeg] Where Wild's Zeev Buium Ranks In Calder Trophy Voting <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/minnesota-wild/latest-news/who-s-in-charge-wild-s-power-play-has-three-commanders">Minnesota Wild rookie defenseman Zeev Buium</a> burst onto the scene in the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs in the first round. He had just finished his sophomore season at the University of Denver where he was up for the NCAA's Hobey Baker Award as the top player in <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/ncaa">College Hockey.</a> [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/minnesota-wild/latest-news/where-wild-s-zeev-buium-ranks-in-calder-trophy-voting]
