Aaron Johnson

Aaron Lindsay Johnson (born April 30, 1983) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman. Johnson last played under contract with the Sheffield Steelers in the Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL). Since 2021, he has worked as a team relations specialist for the NHL's Columbus Blue Jackets.

He was a third-round selection of the Columbus Blue Jackets, 85th overall, at the 2001 NHL entry draft. A journeyman, Johnson has played for the Blue Jackets, New York Islanders, Chicago Blackhawks, Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers and Boston Bruins in the NHL, and several minor league teams during his career. He was a member of the Memorial Cup champion Rimouski Océanic in 2000.

Playing career Johnson played four seasons of junior hockey in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) between 1999 and 2003. He played primarily for the Rimouski Océanic but finished his junior career with the Quebec Remparts. He had 40 goals and 195 points in 252 games as a junior. He was a member of Rimouski's President's Cup championship team that defeated the Hull Olympiques in the final. Johnson appeared in one game at the 2001 Memorial Cup tournament as Rimouski went on to win the Canadian Hockey League championship.

The Columbus Blue Jackets selected Johnson with their third round selection, 85th overall, at the 2001 NHL entry draft. He was assigned to the American Hockey League (AHL)'s Syracuse Crunch upon turning professional in 2003, but appeared in 29 games with the Blue Jackets in the 2003–04 NHL season. Allowed to go again to free agency, Johnson frequently switched teams as a journeyman defenceman. He signed with the Chicago Blackhawks for 2008–09 with whom he appeared in 35 games. A series of injuries to Calgary's defencemen gave Johnson an opportunity to play, but he was on the move again after 22 games with the Flames. Johnson appeared in 19 games for the Oilers and recorded seven points.

On July 3, 2014, Johnson left the Rangers organization after one season and agreed to a one-year contract as a free agent with the Ottawa Senators. He was assigned to their AHL affiliate the Binghamton Senators, where he was also named captain.

On September 25, 2015, Johnson, as a free agent, returned to the Calgary Flames organization, agreeing to a one-year AHL contract with affiliate, the Stockton Heat.

On June 17, 2016, Johnson signed his first contract overseas, a one-year contract with Adler Mannheim of the German top-tier Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL). On March 17, 2017, Johnson signed a one-year contract extension with Mannheim.

On July 26, 2018, Johnson left Germany after two years and agreed as a free agent to a two-year deal with English club the Sheffield Steelers of the EIHL.

Johnson was due to remain in Sheffield for the 2020-21 season as a player/assistant coach, but the campaign was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. In July 2021, Sheffield confirmed Johnson would not return to the club.

In October 2021, Johnson began working as a team relationship specialist for the NHL team which first drafted him, the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Career statistics Regular seasonPlayoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1998–99 Cape Breton West Eagles AAA NSMMHL 56 28 42 70 98 — — — — — 1999–2000 Rimouski Océanic QMJHL 63 1 14 15 57 8 0 0 0 0 2000–01 Rimouski Océanic QMJHL 64 12 41 53 128 11 2 4 6 35 2001–02 Rimouski Océanic QMJHL 68 17 49 66 172 7 1 2 3 12 2002–03 Rimouski Océanic QMJHL 25 4 20 24 41 — — — — — 2002–03 Québec Remparts QMJHL 32 6 31 37 41 11 4 4 8 25 2003–04 Syracuse Crunch AHL 49 6 15 21 83 7 2 3 5 27 2003–04 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 29 2 6 8 32 — — — — — 2004–05 Syracuse Crunch AHL 77 6 17 23 140 — — — — — 2005–06 Syracuse Crunch AHL 49 5 24 29 122 6 1 3 4 19 2005–06 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 26 2 6 8 23 — — — — — 2006–07 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 61 3 7 10 38 — — — — — 2007–08 New York Islanders NHL 30 0 2 2 30 — — — — — 2007–08 Bridgeport Sound Tigers AHL 2 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 2008–09 Rockford IceHogs AHL 2 0 1 1 4 — — — — — 2008–09 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 38 3 5 8 33 — — — — — 2009–10 Calgary Flames NHL 22 1 2 3 19 — — — — — 2009–10 Edmonton Oilers NHL 19 3 4 7 16 — — — — — 2010–11 Milwaukee Admirals AHL 72 9 26 35 70 13 1 2 3 16 2011–12 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 56 3 13 16 26 — — — — — 2012–13 Boston Bruins NHL 10 0 0 0 10 — — — — — 2012–13 Providence Bruins AHL 2 0 1 1 2 — — — — — 2013–14 Hartford Wolf Pack AHL 75 4 36 40 70 — — — — — 2014–15 Binghamton Senators AHL 73 6 29 35 76 — — — — — 2015–16 Stockton Heat AHL 28 3 15 18 20 — — — — — 2016–17 Adler Mannheim DEL 41 4 15 19 28 4 0 0 0 0 2017–18 Adler Mannheim DEL 46 1 6 7 18 3 0 1 1 0 2018–19 Sheffield Steelers EIHL 56 4 19 23 89 2 0 2 2 0 2019–20 Sheffield Steelers EIHL 17 1 5 6 20 — — — — — NHL totals 291 17 45 62 227 — — — — —