By: Jake Ferraro | Follow me on Twitter/X @18Jxxx18
The Boston Bruins will need to add depth up front to their roster after being eliminated in the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs by the Buffalo Sabres. The Bruins’ roster consists of young and veteran talent led by David Pastrnak, Morgan Geekie, and Pavel Zacha up front. However, the Bruins still need to upgrade the forward depth in their top nine to produce points.
More projections and rumors will surface this offseason, and another player was named as someone the Bruins should go after. This time, it’s Columbus Blue Jackets forward Kent Johnson, who was the fifth overall pick in the 2021 National Hockey League Draft. Despite a down 2025-26 season, there is still potential for Johnson at 23 years old, and he’s a player the Bruins could get at a low price, but also at a cost that may not be so high from an organizational standpoint.
The Hockey News’ Michael DeRose recently wrote an article titled “NHL Rumors: 2 Young Fowards The Bruins Should Target.” One forward DeRosa named was Mavrik Bourque of the Dallas Stars, who has previously been linked to the Bruins. Johnson was the second forward DeRosa named whom the Bruins should target.
“With the Bruins needing help in their top six, Columbus Blue Jackets forward Kent Johnson could be a player worth taking a flier on,” DeRosa said.
Johnson may be worth trading for, as he has one year remaining on his contract with a $1.8 million cap hit. Johnson will be a restricted free agent after next season. For a player on a type of contract like Johnson, he can be worth giving a shot to see if he fits into a roster. Johnson has shown potential in Columbus, but followed it up with a disappointing season the next year.
After playing nine games in the 2021-22 season, Johnson first showed big signs in the 2022-23 season, where he recorded 40 points in 79 games for the Blue Jackets. A highlight of Johnson’s career came during the 2022-23 season when he scored a Michigan goal against New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin in March 2023. However, Johnson struggled in the following 2023-24 season, recording 16 points in 42 games and missing games due to injuries. Thoughts of a potential trade involving Johnson surfaced during his struggling season. Then, Johnson delivered and broke out.
Johnson recorded 57 points in 68 games for the Blue Jackets in the 2024-25 season. Johnson’s 57 points tied him with Sean Monahan on the Blue Jackets’ roster for the third-most; his 24 goals were third on the roster, and his 33 assists were fourth. After his breakout season, expectations were high for Johnson this season.
However, as he did in 2023-24 after a solid season, Johnson would struggle deeply. Johnson recorded just 22 points in 76 games for the Blue Jackets this season. The touch that Johnson had quickly disappeared for the Blue Jackets this season. Despite the 22 points, Johnson’s 38 hits set a new career high for a single season. With another struggling season after a big one, the Blue Jackets may be impatient with Johnson and want to trade him. The Bruins could be a team interested in giving Johnson a shot.
A fresh start outside Columbus may be needed for Johnson after a down season and under pressure. Along with that, the Bruins can get younger by adding Johnson, who has proven himself before. Johnson is a player the Bruins can add to their power play. The price to get Johnson may not be that high for a player on a cheap, expiring contract. If the Bruins were to trade for Johnson and he doesn’t live up to expectations, the team wouldn’t have to re-sign him when his contract expires and could find someone else in the same age range to get a fresh start.
“He has already shown that he can be an impactful scorer in the NHL and could be a nice pickup for Boston because of it,” DeRosa said.
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