The Pittsburgh Penguins remembered Adam Johnson on Monday in the wake of Johnson’s tragic death in England over the weekend.
Johnson, who died when a skate cut his neck in a collision on Saturday, played in 13 NHL games over two seasons (2018-19, 2019-20) with the Penguins.
The 29-year-old was playing for the Nottingham Panthers of the Elite Ice Hockey League when the collision occurred.
Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby was among Johnson’s former teammates who spoke Monday.
“It’s something that we’ve all been thinking about since finding out. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones,” Crosby said. “He’s just a great guy, great teammate. An awesome attitude when he was here.
“Was just generally happy to be playing in the NHL. So it’s heartbreaking that that’s happened.”
Johnson was undrafted out of the University of Minnesota-Duluth and signed with Pittsburgh in July 2017.
“I don’t know if I have words to explain the whole circumstance. It’s just an incredible tragedy,” Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan said.
“He’s a terrific kid. It was a privilege to be his coach. I remember when he first came to our development camp, that was my first experience watching him play. …
“Boy, could he really skate. As I said, it was a privilege to be his coach. There are no words I have to explain how I feel about it. It’s just an incredible tragedy.”
With Pittsburgh’s AHL affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Johnson produced double-digit goals in all three seasons, totaling 39 goals and 69 assists (108 points).
He recorded two assists in six games for the Penguins in 2018-19 and a goal and an assist in seven games with the big club the following season.
Johnson, a Minnesota native, scored his goal on a slap shot past Devan Dubnyk in a 7-4 win at the Minnesota Wild on Oct. 12, 2019.
After the Penguins, Johnson made stops with Malmo in the Swedish Hockey League and in the AHL with Ontario (Los Angeles Kings) and Lehigh Valley (Philadelphia Flyers).
Johnson played for Augsburger in Germany last season before joining Nottingham.
Pittsburgh defenseman Pierre-Olivier Joseph was Johnson’s teammate with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in 2019-20.
“Just a happy person in general. We sure will miss him,” Joseph said. “He’s a good jokester. He likes to bring smiles around the room. I think every day was a good memory with him.”
–Field Level Media
