Danny Johnson (ice hockey)
| Danny Johnson | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Born |
October 1, 1944 Winnipegosis, MB, CAN | ||
| Died | March 6, 1993 (aged 48) | ||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) | ||
| Weight | 170 lb (77 kg; 12 st 2 lb) | ||
| Position | Centre | ||
| Shot | Left | ||
| Played for |
Toronto Maple Leafs Vancouver Canucks Detroit Red Wings Winnipeg Jets(WHA) | ||
| Playing career | 1965–1975 | ||
Daniel Douglas Johnson (October 1, 1944–March 6, 1993) was a Canadian retired professional ice hockey player who spent three seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) and another three seasons in the World Hockey Association (WHA) during the 1970s. He was a member of the inaugural Vancouver Canucks team in 1970.
Johnson was signed by the Toronto Maple Leafs following his junior career and would spend 5 seasons with their Central Hockey League affiliate in Tulsa. He was twice a CHL All-Star and was league MVP in 1970, but only managed to earn a single game with the Leafs in the 1969–70 season.
He was claimed by the Vancouver Canucks in the 1970 NHL Expansion Draft and finally received the opportunity to stick in the NHL. In the Canucks' first season, he appeared in 66 games and recorded 15 goals (7th on the team) along with 11 assists for 26 points. Mid-way through the following season, however, he was waived by the Canucks and claimed by the Detroit Red Wings. He would struggle to find his offensive touch and finished the 1971–72 season with just 3 goals and 11 points in 54 games between Detroit and Vancouver.
In 1972, Johnson would jump to the fledgling WHA, signing with a Winnipeg Jets team featuring superstar Bobby Hull. He would have the most successful stretch of his career in Winnipeg, emerging as a valuable leader and two-way player. In 1972–73, he recorded 19 goals and 42 points en route to helping the Jets to the inaugural Avco Cup Finals. Over the next two years, he would add another 34 goals and be named Jets' captain for the 1974–75 before retiring the following year.
Johnson finished his career with 18 goals and 19 assists for 37 points in 121 NHL games, along with 62 penalty minutes. He added 53 goals and 58 assists for 111 points in 232 games in the WHA.
Awards and achievements
- MJHL Second All-Star Team (1964)
- CPHL Championship (1968)
- CHL Second All-Star Team (1969 & 1970)
- Most Valuable Player (CHL) (1970)
- Avco Cup (WHA) Championship (1973)
- “Honoured Member” of the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame
External links
- Danny Johnson's career statistics at EliteProspects.com
- Dan Johnson's career statistics at The Internet Hockey Database
- Dan Johnson's biography at Legends of Hockey
- Dan Johnson's biography at Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame
| Preceded by Jim Lorentz |
CHL Most Valuable Player Award 1969–70 |
Succeeded by (Shared) André Dupont Peter McDuffe Gerry Ouellette Joe Zanussi |
| Preceded by Ab McDonald |
Winnipeg Jets captain 1974–75 |
Succeeded by Lars-Erik Sjoberg |