Wyatt Johnston didn't allow the COVID-19 pandemic to impact his development path to the NHL, and it's showing in his clutch playoff performances with Dallas
Wyatt Johnston didn't allow the COVID-19 pandemic to impact his development path to the NHL, and it's showing in his clutch playoff performances with Dallas
Wyatt Johnston is only 20 years old — turning 21 next week — and he's not just a staple in Dallas' top six forward lineup, he's proving to be a clutch player for them in the NHL playoffs.
Johnston grew up in Toronto, Ontario, playing his minor hockey career with the powerhouse Toronto Marlboros organization. He competed at the 2019 OHL Cup with the Marlboros where he finished fourth in scoring with 13 points in five games. His dominant play was noted by the Windsor Spitfires who later selected him sixth overall in the 2019 OHL Priority Selection.
He put together a very strong rookie year in Windsor with 30 points in 53 games. But his season ended prematurely as the COVID-19 pandemic hit.
The Ontario Hockey League 2020-21 hockey season was forced to be canceled due to the pandemic spreading like wildfire across Ontario. This was incredibly devastating for the teams and the income they lost out on from the canceled season. But most importantly it impacted the development of the OHL players. Some went overseas to play, but many players like Johnston went months before playing any kind of competitive hockey.
As to why this was even more impactful on Wyatt Johnston. Well, he was entering his NHL draft year and you can imagine how playing zero hockey games could impact your draft status.
Lucky for Johnston, and NHL scouting teams, the IIHF U18 Men's World Championship was able to be played in 2021 in Texas — foreshadowing perhaps?
Johnston represented Team Canada at the tournament where he played in a bottom-six utility role. He collected four points in seven games and was an impactful two-way forward — Canada went on to capture the Gold Medal
The Dallas Stars didn't allow the fact that Johnston had only played seven competitive hockey games within the last 12 months leading up to the 2021 NHL Draft to influence their decision. The Stars went on to select him 23rd overall, and boy do their scouting staff look like geniuses in what was an extremely difficult time to scout players.
The OHL would get back in business for the 2021-22 season. Despite the lost season, it appeared it did not affect Johnston as he would go on to lead the OHL in points at the end of the regular season (124 in 68 games) and in the playoffs (41 in 25) while collecting some hardware along the way winning the OHL's Most Outstanding and Most Sportsmanlike Player of the Year awards.
The following season he could have been returned to junior hockey, but he made an impression in training camp with Dallas and early on in the year with his new pro team. In 2022-23 he played all 82 games and finished tied for the NHL lead in rookie goal scoring with 24 and made the NHL All-Rookie Team.
"I haven't had a player that young step into the lineup and contribute at this level in my 15 years in the league, and it's not close," Dallas Stars Head Coach Pete DeBoer said on Johnston's rookie season.
He made an impact right away with the Stars. And it carried over into the 2023 NHL playoffs. Although he only recorded four goals in 19 games, two were game-winners, and the most important one coming in Game 7 of the third period in a tie game with 7:12 left on the clock against the Seattle Kraken in the second round.
His goal didn't just send Dallas to the Western Conference Final. At 20 years old, Johnston became the youngest player in NHL history to score a series-clinching goal in a Game 7.
Johnston is now elevating his game to another level in the ongoing NHL playoffs. He leads Dallas in goals with five and points with eight. He's producing consistently at the most important time of the year and his clutch-gene continues to come out on display.
Dallas dropped the first two games of their first-round series against the reigning Cup champs Vegas and going down 3-0 would be catastrophic. Johnston didn't allow that to happen as late in overtime of Game 3, the puck comes to him in stride flying through the neutral zone, he makes a move to his forehand to avoid the reach of Vegas defender Shea Theodore, spots Logan Thompson sinking in his butterfly and goes upstairs to give the Stars life in the series.
This sparked Dallas' comeback against Vegas and the series needed a Game 7. In a win-or-go-home elimination game where players grip their sticks a little tighter scared to make a mistake. Johnston looked cool as a cucumber as he jumped on a broken play with just over five minutes to play in the first period and rifled his shot past Adin Hill to open the scoring. The Stars went on to win Game 7 2-1.
The definition of Hockey IQ is the ability to be aware of everything that is going on around you and the ability to process the game at a fast rate. Johnston has that skill in spades. He's one of the Dallas' most intelligent players and that's why he's been able to thrive and excel in the NHL at such an early age.
Johnston's perseverance to not allow the COVID-19 pandemic to negate his development should be well documented, and kudos to the Stars scouting team on their home run pick.