After floating about as an unrestricted free agent (UFA) for two months, former Chicago Blackhawks winger Tyler Johnson signed a professional tryout agreement (PTO) with the Boston Bruins on August 31.
The Blackhawks appeared to be more thrilled with the move than the seasoned player when they acquired Johnson from the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2021. After winning two consecutive Stanley Cups with Tampa Bay, Johnson joined a team that was starting a rebuild.
In Chicago, he completed the last three seasons of a seven-year contract. Johnson signed a contract with the Lightning in the summer of 2017, however it may have been overpaid because of the $5 million AAV for a $35 million total. Only once in his 34-year career, the 5-foot-8, Washington native has scored more than 50 points in a season.
Johnson did not mope around or take offense at the move. He had a rough first season with Chicago (2021–2022) and missed 56 games, but he recovered to provide the Blackhawks with two strong seasons as a middle-six player and leader.
Johnson made 67 appearances for the Blackhawks in the 2023–24 campaign, tallying 31 points with 17 goals and 14 assists. The forward, who has a plus-20 rating and 738 NHL games under his belt between Chicago and Tampa Bay, has scored 193 goals and provided 238 assists for a total of 431 points. Johnson has participated in 116 playoff games in his career, scoring 65 points (32 goals, 33 assists) in those contests.
Johnson’s goal has always been to return to the postseason as quickly as possible. Following Chicago’s league-low 31st-place finish the previous season and his UFA status, Johnson set his sights on a contender right away. In order to improve and get a boost toward the playoffs in 2024–2025, the Blackhawks signed eight UFAs on July 1st, following Johnson’s announcement in April that he would not be returning to Chicago.
Johnson seemed to be counting on greater interest in free agency early on, but to no avail. Until the Bruins plucked him off a PTO, he remained unsigned.
This is a chance to join a squad that has a lengthy history of success rather than a contract for this season. Boston seems more well-rounded and should easily make it to the postseason after significantly surpassing predictions in each of the last two seasons.
The Bruins might go very far once they enter the playoffs. They are a formidable club that was designed for the postseason, and this more recent bunch has learned from and overcome the difficulties they faced early in the first and second rounds. Johnson ought to be a part of that and receive what he wants again, if he at least signs a deal with the Bruins.
Johnson may still be a useful player who can contribute on the ice in both situations. In 123 games over the last two seasons, he has scored 29 goals and accumulated 63 points, earning votes for the Selke Trophy early in his career and demonstrating his ability to perform well in the postseason. The Bruins’ bottom six have room for a guy who scores 0.5 points per game.
Upon initial observation, it appears that both the Blackhawks and Johnson achieved their desired outcomes from the summer, provided that Johnson secures a contract during training camp and makes it to the playoffs with the Bruins this year.
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