Ryan Johnson (ice hockey)

Infobox Ice Hockey Player


image_size =
position = Centre
shoots = Left
height_ft = 6
height_in = 1
weight_lb = 185
team = Vancouver Canucks
league = NHL
former_teams=St. Louis Blues
Florida Panthers
Tampa Bay Lightning
nationality = CAN
birth_date = birth date and age|1976|06|14
birth_place = Thunder Bay, ON, CAN
draft = 36th overall
draft_year = 1994
draft_team = Florida Panthers
career_start = 1996

Ryan Johnson (born June 14, 1976) is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre who currently plays for the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Playing career

Johnson was drafted by the Florida Panthers in the second round, 36th overall, of the 1994 NHL Entry Draft. He subsequently played two seasons of collegiate hockey with the University of North Dakota. He scored 19 points in 21 games, splitting the 1995–95 season with the Canadian National Team.

In his first three seasons with the Panthers, Johnson played with Florida's AHL affiliates, the Carolina Monarchs and the New Haven Beast. In 1999–00, he earned a full-time roster spot with the Panthers, but was traded during that season to the Tampa Bay Lightning with Dwayne Hay in exchange for Mike Sillinger on March 14, 2000.citeweb|title=Ryan Johnson - NHL Profile|url=http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app?page=PlayerDetail&playerId=8460527&service=page&tab=crst|accessdate=2008-09-26|publisher=National Hockey League]

Johnson spent one full season with the Lightning, scoring 21 points in 2000–01. On July 10, 2001, he was traded back to the Panthers with a 6th round draft choice (later traded back to Tampa Bay) in 2003 in exchange for Vaclav Prospal. However, he missed the majority of his first season back in Florida from a head injury suffered on December 22, 2001, against the St. Louis Blues.

Near the trade deadline of the next season, he was placed on waivers and picked up by the St. Louis Blues on February 19, 2003. Johnson spent four full seasons with the Blues, playing with the Missouri River Otters of the UHL during the 2004–05 NHL lockout. After posting 18 points and leading the league in shot blocks with 105 in 2007–08,citeweb|title=Coach can circle the wagons by sending out Johnson|url=http://www.canada.com/theprovince/news/sports/story.html?id=d01617c7-557f-4d6b-992c-21f7da7c730a|accessdate=2008-09-26|date=2008-09-26|publisher=The Province] Johnson became an unrestricted free agent in the off-season; he signed a two-year, $2.3 million contract with the Vancouver Canucks.

Personal life

Johnson's older brother, Greg Johnson, is a retired hockey player who played with the Detroit Red Wings, Pittsburgh Penguins, Chicago Blackhawks, and Nashville Predators.

Career statistics

References

External links

*hockeydb|20431|Ryan Johnson