Blue Jackets fans can see the future on display at Nationwide Arena this season. Cole Sillinger’s competitive spirit and 200-foot game have been eye-opening, especially for an 18-year-old. Yegor Chinakhov, 20, shoots the puck in a way that portends some high-scoring seasons.
But there’s another wave coming.
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The Blue Jackets’ top prospect is not Sillinger or Chinakhov. It’s not Dimitri Voronkov or Kirill Marchenko, the two Russian prospects who are headed toward Columbus over the next two seasons.
It’s Michigan sophomore forward Kent Johnson, who plays left wing for the ultra-stacked Wolverines. The Blue Jackets expect Johnson to play center in the NHL — that’s why they drafted him No. 5 overall last summer — and he could be wearing a Columbus sweater as soon as this spring, when Michigan’s season is complete.
The Athletic is checking in on Johnson each month this season to provide a “prospect’s diary” that, through Johnson’s words, will allow Blue Jackets fans to follow his progress through this season of extremely high expectations in Ann Arbor.
When we published Part 1 last month, Johnson was just getting settled on campus for his sophomore season. Now the Wolverines are well entrenched in their season, and Johnson has been, as expected, a catalyst for their explosive offense. He had an eight-game point streak (3-12-15 in that span) snapped over the weekend.
Johnson leads the Wolverines with 21 points (4-17-21) in 14 games. He has a plus-11 rating and only one minor penalty all season, and he may have scored the best goal of the college hockey season — a backhand-to-forehand, between-the-legs goal inside the far post — vs. Wisconsin. (See below.)
Michigan (10-4) was ranked No. 1 in the country before two weekend overtime losses at home against Notre Dame, but our conversation with Johnson took place before those games vs. the Irish.
The Wolverines play two games vs. Niagara this weekend, the return to Big Ten play at the start of next month with weekend series against Minnesota (Dec. 3-4) and Ohio State (Dec. 10-11). At some point after that, Johnson will leave Ann Arbor for Western Canada in preparation for the IIHF World Junior Championships, where he’ll represent Canada.
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For now, though, he’s juggling classes, daily workouts and practices, weekend games and the upcoming holidays.
Here’s what’s going on…
Oct. 28-29
A two-game series vs. Big Ten rival Wisconsin, including a highlight-reel goal.
“We started really playing well. Individually, I’ve just felt really good, like I picked it up a notch from the first month of the season. It’s been good. I feel like my passes are definitely clicking, and I’m seeing the game really well. My feet are moving, too.
“That power-play goal. … I found myself at the net-front positions, and obviously I’m not there too often. (He usually plays the half-wall.) I’ve always seen guys do that move. James van Riemsdyk, for one. I saw William Nylander do it. I always felt that if I ever got in that position, I could do it. I’ve practiced going between my legs in practice a bit, too. I’m just lucky it worked.
“We lost that game (4-2), so that’s tough. At the time we were down (2-0), and I feel like it kind of lifted our spirits a bit and got us going. We didn’t end up coming back, but a big goal like that always feels good for the team. We watched it a few times after. It just sucks when you don’t win a game like that, though.”
Daily workouts, all season
Trying to add healthy weight on a slender frame.
“I have learned to like the gym more the last couple of years. It’s really cool when you see the effects on the ice, what it can do for your game. I’ve been working hard on my lower body a lot, and I think that’s even more important than the upper body. My skating is more explosive this year, just getting up and down the ice and leaning on people.
“I’m at 172 pounds now (up from 165 when he was drafted). During the season, it’s hard to add weight, but when I got back to Michigan (in the fall), they told me that all the weight I added was muscle. I’m 6 feet tall, even though it might say 6-1 in the program. I don’t think there’s any chance I’ll ever be that heavy. I’m just trying to gain one pound at a time. I’ll never be the biggest or bulkiest guy, but I think I can be really strong and wiry. Genetically, I’m going to be one of the skinnier guys. I figure 180 to 185 pounds will probably be good for me.
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“I’ve been playing that way my whole life. I weighed 90 pounds in bantam (13-14-year-olds). It’s just something I’ve always dealt with, and I’ll always be able to adjust, but every pound is going to help. I wouldn’t say I’m concerned about it. I was growing three inches a year for three or four years, but I was always kinda slight. I’ve heard about it my whole life, so it’s nothing new from NHL scouts, that’s for sure.”
Nov. 5-6, 11-12
Sweeps of Michigan State and Penn State, and the grind of a Big Ten season.
“My dad came to watch the games at Penn State, so that was great. He stayed at the same hotel we did (in State College), so we got to chat after games. Of all the places to play in the Big Ten, other than Michigan, of course, I think Penn State is a fun place to play. Their crowd is awesome. I played a bantam tournament there, so I was looking forward to going back.
“Four assists (on Nov. 12 vs. Penn State) matches a career-high. You don’t get four assists in a game without getting some lucky bounces, so it was definitely working out for me that night. We played really well as a team (in a 6-2 win).”
Great vision from Kent Johnson as he feeds Beniers for the power-play tally and Michigan leads 3-1 pic.twitter.com/ghPzm3g45e
— Michigan Hockey (@umichhockey) November 13, 2021
Nov. 15
Tuning in for the third period of the Blue Jackets’ win over Detroit.
“I was watching the third period of that game, so I saw Chinakhov’s goal. Awesome shot. I kind of knew the book on him was that he’s a shooter. It looked like the guys were pretty excited for him, too, which was cool. Sillinger jumping on him … just awesome.
“It’s pretty cool watching those guys play in the NHL, especially having played with Cole this summer (in Team Canada’s camp) and now seeing how well he’s doing. I’m not there yet, but seeing the success he’s able to have, it helps give me some confidence.
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“At the junior level, Cole has the kind of shot to be a big goal-scorer, and he will be in the NHL, too. But right now, as an 18-year-old, it’s really impressive just to see how good of a 200-foot game he’s playing. That’s what I see. He’s really physically mature, so he’s strong on pucks. He’s doing really well in the defensive zone and on faceoffs, which is just really impressive at his age.”
Middle/end of November
Getting ready for the holidays.
“I heard some rumors today that we’re going to do our Thanksgiving dinner together as a team. I don’t know where, but we’re probably doing something as a team, which will be great. We didn’t have anything organized last year. We met at the rink and had some turkey and gravy or something, but not a full-course Thanksgiving dinner.
“I’ve heard that U.S. Thanksgiving is similar to Canadian Thanksgiving, but it’s more of a big deal.
“Honestly I don’t find it too hard to focus on hockey during the holidays. Every college game is just really special, especially with the fans back this year. Whether we’re playing at home in a packed house, where it’s just so much fun to play, or playing in some really cool buildings with the fans booing you, it’s pretty easy to be in the moment.”
(Photo: Al Goldis / AP Photo)
