MrBoDangles wrote:Where do you see this kid compared to others in next year's Junior class? Post high school potential?
Don't know if I've seen a more skilled sophomore.
Had never seen him before but he was obviously a lot of fun to watch. One of the more elusive puck carriers you'll ever see at the high school level. Extremely talented all around and you can bet that he's now on a lot of college coaches' radar, if he wasn't already.
One question: how much does this kid weigh? He has plenty of time to get stronger physically but he seemed very thin, like he has the build of a BB player. Just makes me wonder how he'd hold up to the pounding of the WCHA, but again he has plenty of time to prepare.
During the 7A title game TV broadcast, one of the commentators, who used to play for UMD, said he saw Johnson at a couple of UMD games and remarked on how big of a kid he was. I'm not sure, but it sounds like he may have been invited to the games by Sandelin. He's already a scoring machine, add some more muscle on to his frame and its scary. What he did against Hermantown was unbelieveable, his second goal was as pretty a goal as you will see. Hard to imagine he won't be D1 material. If Hendrickson from Virginia is a D1 player, Johnson absolutely is.
He's already great offensively. He can take over a game if he has open ice, like we saw against hermantown. Needs to put on some muscle and work on playing a little better d. Hes d1 for sure
If this kid can put some muscle on his frame to take on the physical part of the game he will play at the next level. Tons of potential. Only a sophomore, plenty of time to get ready and bigger for post high school hockey.
mitchrapp wrote:Anyone know why he's "only a sophomore?" He turns 17 in June....
I'm guessing his parents started him into school a year later so he would be one of the older kids instead of the one of the youngest ones in his class. I had friends in school that had birthdays in July and August before the school year, don't think it's too uncommon.
orlo4457 wrote:kids got a bright future it is good to see him going with the dogs cant wait too see him in a bulldog uni.. potential first round pick down the road ?
Excellent, congrats to him and the Bulldogs. UMD has a good track record of keeping local kids in high school, a la Niskanen and Connolly. Plus Sandelin is a Hibbing guy, can't see him pushing Johnson to juniors for his senior season, he'd never be allowed in town again.
Says in hockey hub article Johnson is 1st mn Sophomore to commit to d-1 program since Ben Marshall, what about Osterberg from Lakeville South? He would have been soph this year and he committed to UMD as well last fall, also Brady Sjkei from Lakeville North commited to U at end of his soph year last yr I believe....?
