This afternoon, they announced the signing of defenseman Aaron Johnson to a one-year, two-way contract for the 2012-13 season. It's worth $650,000 at the NHL level and $105,000 at the AHL level with the Providence Bruins.
Believe it or not, Johnson actually played in 56 games for the worst team in the NHL-the Columbus Blue Jackets-last season. He had three goals, a career-high 13 assists and 16 points. Johnson was -12 with 26 penalty minutes. Don't feel bad if you're never heard of him, I hadn't either. I think Rick Nash is the only Blue Jacket that's known by the outside world. Name me a more obscure pro sports team in the the big four sports in America?
A third-round pick by Columbus in 2001 (85th overall), Johnson is 29, 6-foot-2 and 211 pounds. The left-handed shot already played for five NHL teams (Blue Jackets, Islanders, Blackhawks, Oilers, Flames) before coming to Boston which is always a bad sign.
For his NHL career (281 games), he has 17 goals and 45 assists for 62 points. He's +1 with 217 penalty minutes and 225 shots on goal.
In 2010-11, Johnson had 35 points in 72 games with the Milwaukee Admirals (AHL) after signing as an unrestricted free agent with the Nashville Predators two summers ago.
Let's be honest, the best Johnson can hope for is he'll grab the last spot on the third defenseman line. More likely, he'll find himself in the TD Garden press box often as a healthy scratch or competing in Providence.
He will soon learn it's a big step up from the Blue Jackets to the Bruins but regardless, we wish him luck.
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