Nick Johnson (ice hockey, born 1985)

Playing career

Nicholas VanCuran Johnson, born December 24, 1985, is a Canadian former professional ice hockey forward who appeared in the NHL for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Minnesota Wild, and Phoenix Coyotes. The Penguins selected him 67th overall in the 2004 draft. Before that, he played junior hockey for the St. Albert Saints in the Alberta Junior Hockey League. After finishing high school and getting drafted, he spent four seasons at Dartmouth College in the ECAC Hockey conference. Following his senior year, he signed a two-year entry-level contract with Pittsburgh on March 25, 2008, and started his pro career with their AHL affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

Johnson made his NHL debut on January 21, 2010, against the Washington Capitals, scoring his first career goal in that game. He appeared in six contests for Pittsburgh that season before heading back to Wilkes-Barre. The Penguins re-signed him to a one-year deal on June 7, 2010. On September 29, 2011, the Minnesota Wild claimed him off waivers. During the 2011-12 campaign, he carved out a regular checking-line role, playing a career-high 77 games and notching 8 goals and 26 points.

Despite that productive season, Johnson became a free agent and signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Phoenix Coyotes on July 11, 2012. When the NHL lockout hit, he briefly played for the Idaho Steelheads of the ECHL. After the lockout ended, he was assigned to the Coyotes’ AHL affiliate, the Portland Pirates. He was later called up by Phoenix during the shortened 2012-13 season, skating in 17 games before being placed on waivers and sent back to Portland on March 13, 2013. On July 5, 2013, he signed a one-year, two-way deal with the Boston Bruins. A year later, on July 9, 2014, he left the Bruins and inked his first overseas contract, a one-year agreement with the Växjö Lakers of the Swedish Hockey League.