Johnson played so well at the beginning of 2010-11 that coach Dan Bylsma had a tough time deciding whether to go with him or starter Marc-Andre Fleury. Johnson's tending kept the team together in October, when Fleury got off to an 0-6-1 start. The 34-year-old backup went 5-0-1 during the same month. Johnson's 13-5-3 record, 2.17 Goals-against average and .922 save percentage were all better than the Flower's. His one-punch knockdown of Islanders' goalie Rick DiPietro wasn't too shabby, either. But in the end, Johnson is little more than a second stringer who would do well to put up similar numbers in 2011-12.
Johnson is cemented as the clear-cut netminder behind Marc-Andre Fleury. The Pens' showed their appreciation for Johnson, as they signed him to a two-year deal in April 2010. In a decade's worth of service time, Johnson has averaged 2.64 goals-against, and a .903 save percentage between the Blues, Coyotes, Capitals and Penguins. He's a career backup who could likely match Fleury's level of production, if given the chance - just don't expect many starts unless Fleury goes down with an injury.
Johnson has a decent chance of starting between 20 and 30 games with Pittsburgh if his injury-prone hip holds up. Starter Marc-Andre Fleury has shone a propensity to suffer from some sort of injury that forces him to miss a month or so of the season. Beware that if Fleury doesn't get hurt, then Johnson figures to start fewer than 15 games. Rather than waste a draft pick, it might be wise to keep Johnson on the back burner and pounce upon hearing news of Fleury's latest injury.
Johnson comes into camp as the back-up, with the departures of Cristobal Huet and Olaf Kolzig, and the addition of Jose Theodore, who comes in as the starter. Johnson has been around the NHL since 1998, has a career record of 99-88-13; with a 2.62 goals against average, .902 save percentage, and 13 shutouts. Last year he only appeared in 19 games, starting 17, seven of them wins, eight losses with two coming in overtime, and had a 2.62 goals against average and a .908 save percentage. With Theodore being the top netminder, Johnson will have some fantasy value this season, especially it being a contract year for the veteran.
Signed to a two-year extension that carries him through 2009, Johnson will back up Olaf Kolzig. There are worse assignments than backing up a 37-year-old goaltender who missed a month last season due to a knee injury, but Johnson wasn't particularly impressive in 30 games last year.
Johnson served passably as Olaf Kolzig's backup in 2005-06 -- finishing 9-12-1 with a .905 save percentage -- and will serve in the same capacity this season.
Johnson had a terrible finish to his 2003-04 season after being traded to Phoenix, going 1-6-1 with a 2.59 GAA. Backing up Olaf Kolzig, Johnson will not see much ice time barring injury, and he needs to improve his play to get more than 5-10 games this season.
