The Columbus Blue Jackets put in a surprising challenge for the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2025. While they were unable to overcome the Montreal Canadiens for the final spot, Columbus showed they aren’t far off postseason contention. One player who made a significant statement for the Blue Jackets in 2024-25 was Kent Johnson.
Johnson, a former top-five pick, had his best career season in the NHL. He skated in 68 games this past year, scoring 24 goals and 57 points. He was a major reason Columbus found itself in postseason contention as the regular season neared its conclusion.
It’s a fantastic season for the 22-year-old. And there is hope he can continue to grow as a player. However, Johnson wants to be among the NHL’s elite stars. He recognizes there is work to do, but this is a solid foundation for him as he prepares to push some of the game’s best players.
“It was definitely a good year for me in terms of growth and some good takeaways, and I think how I battled throughout the year even with injury and whatnot, just coming back and playing good right away,” Johnson said, via Blue Jackets reporter Jeff Svoboda. “There’s a lot of good things for me to take away, but I think I have a lot more in this league and can get a lot better, there’s still a lot of areas to get better at.
“There’s a lot of way better players in the league than me right now, so I definitely have to close that gap.”
Teammates Believe in Kent Johnson’s Potential
Steph Chambers/Getty ImagesKent Johnson has the potential to become a superstar for the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Johnson is certainly not the only one who believes in his potential. Those around him every day during the season have seen what he can do. And they have all the faith in the world that the Blue Jackets star has greatness ahead of him.
“There was no doubt in my mind that he was going to get to this level,” said Cole Sillinger, via Svoboda. “For me, I think he still has more. I know that if you’re to ask him, he would agree with that. He’s just so skilled. He sees the ice so well, and he’s just such a smart hockey player that he takes every inch that he’s given. You put all of his tendencies together and his abilities, and you get what he’s doing now.”
Johnson certainly has the support network he needs to thrive. The Blue Jackets star has to put in the work, of course. But there is no doubt within the organization that he can become a superstar.
Blue Jackets Building Something Special
What’s intriguing is that Johnson’s ascent is happening in tandem with Columbus’s ascent as a team. The Blue Jackets are one of the more promising teams in the NHL, especially after 2024-25. And this has risen expectations throughout the city and franchise.
On one hand, this was a successful season for Columbus. On the other, they fell short of their ultimate goal. Johnson is excited to be apart of the future, and he showed how much making the playoffs would mean to his team when speaking about their near-miss.
“There was definitely a lot of growth and a lot of good takeaways to build on for our team,” Johnson said, via Svoboda. “I think it’s exciting what we have building here. There’s definitely a lot of that, but also we didn’t make the playoffs. We want to be there, so it’s frustrating.”
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