Craig Johnson (ice hockey, born 1972)

Craig Thomas Johnson (born March 18, 1972), is an American former professional ice hockey player who played 10 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted 33rd overall by the St. Louis Blues in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft and went on to play 557 games in the NHL for the St. Louis Blues, Los Angeles Kings, Toronto Maple Leafs, Washington Capitals and the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.

Craig Johnson
Born (1972-03-18) March 18, 1972 (age 52)
Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S.
Height 6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight 198 lb (90 kg; 14 st 2 lb)
Position Left wing
Shot Left
Played for St. Louis Blues
Los Angeles Kings
Toronto Maple Leafs
Washington Capitals
Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
Hamburg Freezers
DEG Metro Stars
EC Red Bull Salzburg
National team  United States
NHL draft 33rd overall, 1990
St. Louis Blues
Playing career 1994–2008

Internationally Johnson played for the American national team in several World Championships and the 1994 Winter Olympics.

Playing career

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Johnson made his NHL debut during the 1994–95 season with St. Louis. He scored the first goal at the Kiel Center when it opened in 1995. On February 27, 1996, Johnson was traded with Patrice Tardif, Roman Vopat, and two draft picks to the Los Angeles Kings for Wayne Gretzky. He remained a King for another seven seasons through the 2002–03 season. During his tenure with the Kings, he wore number 23, making him the penultimate player to wear the number until it was retired for Dustin Brown in 2023.[1]

He signed as a free agent with the Anaheim Mighty Ducks for the 2003–04 season.[2] He spent half a season with Anaheim until being claimed off waivers by the Toronto Maple Leafs.[3] Two months later he was again claimed off waivers by the Washington Capitals, where he finished the season.[4]

Johnson moved to Germany's Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL), signing with the Hamburg Freezers. After one season he signed with the DEG Metro Stars in Düsseldorf where he spent two seasons. In 2007, Johnson moved to Austria and signed with Red Bull Salzberg.

Johnson returned to the Orange County area and coached youth hockey at Santa Margarita Catholic High School and for the Anaheim Jr Ducks youth team.[5] He was an assistant coach for the Ontario Reign in 2010–11 and joined the player development staff for the Los Angeles Kings in 2018. He returned to the Reign, now in the AHL, as assistant coach in 2020.[6] He is working as co-head coach of the Reign with Chris Hajt.[7]

Personal life

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His son Ryan, a defenseman, was drafted in the first round by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2019 NHL Draft - he is currently a member of the Buffalo Sabres

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1987–88 Hill-Murray School HS-MN 28 14 20 34 4
1988–89 Hill-Murray School HS-MN 24 22 30 52 10
1989–90 Hill-Murray School HS-MN 23 15 36 51 0
1990–91 University of Minnesota WCHA 33 13 18 31 34
1991–92 University of Minnesota WCHA 44 19 39 58 70
1992–93 University of Minnesota WCHA 42 22 24 46 68
1992–93 Jacksonville Bullets SuHL 23 2 9 11 38
1993–94 United States National Team Intl 54 25 26 51 64
1994–95 Peoria Rivermen IHL 16 2 6 8 25 9 0 4 4 10
1994–95 St. Louis Blues NHL 15 3 3 6 6 1 0 0 0 2
1995–96 Worcester IceCats AHL 5 3 0 3 2
1995–96 St. Louis Blues NHL 49 8 7 15 30
1995–96 Los Angeles Kings NHL 11 5 4 9 6
1996–97 Los Angeles Kings NHL 31 4 3 7 26
1997–98 Los Angeles Kings NHL 74 17 21 38 42 4 1 0 1 4
1998–99 Los Angeles Kings NHL 69 7 12 19 32
1999–00 Los Angeles Kings NHL 76 9 14 23 28 4 1 0 1 2
2000–01 Los Angeles Kings NHL 26 4 5 9 16
2001–02 Los Angeles Kings NHL 72 13 14 27 24 7 1 2 3 2
2002–03 Los Angeles Kings NHL 70 3 6 9 22
2003–04 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim NHL 39 1 2 3 14
2003–04 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 10 1 1 2 6
2003–04 Washington Capitals NHL 15 0 6 6 8
2004–05 Hamburg Freezers DEL 42 19 25 44 56
2005–06 DEG Metro Stars DEL 25 11 2 13 48 13 8 5 13 40
2006–07 DEG Metro Stars DEL 50 19 19 38 83 9 3 2 5 20
2007–08 EC Salzburg AUT 23 3 6 9 30 14 2 5 7 32
NHL totals 557 75 98 173 260 16 3 2 5 10

International

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Year Team Event GP G A Pts PIM
1991 United States WJC 2 0 2 2 0
1993 United States WC 6 1 1 2 4
1994 United States OLY 8 0 4 4 4
1996 United States WC 6 1 1 2 2
1999 United States WC 6 0 3 3 0
2003 United States WC 6 2 2 4 8
Junior totals 2 0 2 2 0
Senior totals 32 4 11 15 18

Awards and honors

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Award Year(s)
All-WCHA Rookie Team 1990–91
WCHA All-Tournament Team 1992, 1993 [8]

References

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  1. ^ "List of all the Los Angeles Kings Sweater Numbers". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  2. ^ "Johnson stays close to home, joins Ducks". TSN.ca. September 9, 2003. Archived from the original on January 8, 2004. Retrieved May 8, 2022.
  3. ^ "Leafs Claim Johnson Off Waivers". Toronto Maple Leafs. January 10, 2004. Archived from the original on February 28, 2004. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
  4. ^ "Capitals Claim Craig Johnson Off Waivers from Toronto". Washington Capitals. March 5, 2004. Archived from the original on September 10, 2004. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
  5. ^ "Anaheim Wildcats Hockey Club". Archived from the original on June 22, 2010. Retrieved July 27, 2010.
  6. ^ "Hockey Operations :: Ontario Reign".
  7. ^ "Statement from the Ontario Reign :: Ontario Reign".
  8. ^ "WCHA Tourney History". WCHA. Archived from the original on July 2, 2014. Retrieved June 26, 2014.
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