Columbus Blue Jackets forward Kent Johnson entered the 2025-26 season hoping to build on a career year in terms of numbers. So far the start has not gone according to plan.
Going into Saturday night’s game against the New York Rangers, Johnson has only two goals and five points in 16 games while being shuffled around the Blue Jackets’ lineup. This led head coach Dean Evason to make an interesting lineup decision last Tuesday in Seattle.
Johnson was a healthy scratch.
Evason admitted the news Thursday morning before their game against the Edmonton Oilers. It was initially unclear whether Johnson’s scratch was a healthy scratch or if it was related to the illness still circulating within the team.
“He wasn’t sick,” Evason said. Ultimately, the decision to scratch Johnson at health came down to consistency and a desire to see more competition in his game.
The Hockey Writers spoke with Johnson after practice Friday afternoon about where he thinks his game is at. He knows he has to be better than what he has shown so far.
Healthy Scratch surprised him
All 23 skaters attended the warm-up in Seattle as there were some questions about player availability due to the illness sweeping the room. If one or two players had not been available, Johnson might have played.
Instead, Johnson found himself from the outside looking in. It did indeed surprise him.
“Yes, that’s true, to be honest,” Johnson said. “But that’s all good. Just move forward and use it the best I can. (Coaches) are doing their job to get the best out of me. So just try to make something good out of it.”
Evason said there have been several conversations between Johnson and the coaching staff about the state of his game and what they expect from him. The lines of communication have been open throughout this process.
“Absolutely. I think they’re trying to get the best out of me. Just move on. We’re having conversations and I think I’ll be better in the end.”
Johnson then reflected on how he thinks the start of this season has gone.
“I obviously don’t think this has been an ideal start to the year,” Johnson said. “I think for me the numbers are part of it, but I want to earn more minutes (and) earn more confidence. But yes, I also want to score. I feel like I haven’t buried my chances enough. Part of it is luck and it will change. But I definitely feel like I need to be better.”
Not a matter of linemates
Not only did Johnson admit that he needed to be better, he also said that his early struggles had nothing to do with his linemates or any of those factors related to playing with different lines. He only pointed to himself as he assessed the situation.
“I’m not going to point fingers at things like that,” Johnson said. “Hockey, it’s an interesting sport with stuff like that. But I feel like it’s all on me. It’s definitely not on linemates. I’ve played games with great linemates, so it’s definitely not on that.”
“I don’t feel like there were any excuses for me at all. I feel like hopefully things can change here soon. Because yeah, it sucks right now. I want to help the team a lot more. I feel like I have a lot more to offer this team than what was done in the first few games.”
One of Johnson’s strengths in his early career was his power play production. Even that has dried up so far in 2025-26, with no points on the man advantage so far. He believes that things can change quickly. How will that happen for him?
“I think I can create more there and win more battles and regain the trust of the coaches more and also get on the ice more. I think every player feels good when he or she is out there a lot. So I have had to earn more ice time. I feel like things can change quickly in this league. There are plenty of players where something has happened quickly. So hopefully we can get the ball moving quickly.”
Players in a slump manage their affairs based on what works for them. Some don’t make changes, knowing that sooner or later things will get better. Others make changes in the hope that will awaken them.
For Johnson, he says a balance between the two needs to be considered.
“I think a little bit of both. I think there are certain things. It’s a team sport, so there are certain things that coaches will ask. There’s a certain role that you had or whatever. There’s definitely things like that that you have to think about. It’s not just going into the rink and not thinking and just being exactly what I’ve done my whole life. There’s definitely some of that. But you also have to remember what you’re here to do. There’s always things to learn.” I think (the) coaches have been good at that.”
Johnson skated with Sean Monahan and Luca Del Bel Belluz during Friday’s practice, just as they did Thursday against the Oilers. The Blue Jackets need the offense this line could provide.
Johnson got Evason’s message loud and clear. The healthy scratch was a surprising wake-up call, but one in which he sees the bigger picture.
Johnson knows he has a lot more to give, and he knows it. He doesn’t make excuses either.
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