Tyler Johnson undersized and overlooked ’til now

On a recent Saturday night, Tyler Johnson was having dinner with Ondrej Palat, his left wing on a Tampa Bay Lightning line dubbed “The Triplets,” and shared the news: He’ll be playing in the National Hockey League All-Star game. According to Palat, Johnson’s reaction was over the top. Actually, it was Palat who got pretty excited for his center and good friend. Johnson just smiled and thanked Palat. “Obviously, he was happy, but he didn’t scream,” Palat said. “He’s a humble guy. He’s just a great person.” Sounds like the June day in 2005 when the Spokane Chiefs selected Johnson in the 11th round of the Western Hockey League’s Bantam Draft. “His parents called the school and I was given a note to give to him,” Greenacres Middle School language arts teacher Dave Cunningham said. “I thought it was a pretty big deal, getting drafted by the hometown team. I handed him the note, he looked at it, tucked it inside his textbook and kept doing his homework. “An eighth-grader is what, 14? He was so mature.” Those stories explain how Johnson – undersized and overlooked – became an All-Star. “The mouse is running the wheel inside his head, but you can’t see where his mind is,” veteran Tampa Bay winger Brenden Morrow said. “He does a good job of hiding his feelings. I don’t know if he was brought up that way by his parents or if he was taught that in juniors, but he’s got a real good attitude.” That even keel may be a good reason why Johnson, hasn’t let the frustrations of being overlooked – at every level – keep him from reaching his goals. “Him being a modest kid, I know he’s not going to say it, but these kids play with a chip on their shoulder,” said Morrow, who was a first-round draft choice from the Portland Winterhawks in 1997. That chip, or internal drive, has produced amazing results. In his first season, Johnson was MVP of the WHL playoffs that sent the Chiefs to the 2008 Memorial Cup, where they won their second title. While with the Chiefs he twice played for the U.S. Team in the U19 World Championships, coming away with a gold medal in 2010. He also led the WHL with 53 goals his final season. Despite twice going to Minnesota’s training camp and to Phoenix once, he was never drafted, which, while disappointing, allowed him to have choices when free-agent offers came in 2011. Tampa Bay was obviously the right decision. Johnson’s first professional season was amazing – and familiar. He put together a 13-game points streak and helped the Norfolk Admirals compile a 28-game winning streak, the longest in pro hockey history. He was the MVP as the Admirals won the Calder Cup. In his second season in the American Hockey League, Johnson led the league in scoring and was MVP. He also played 14 games with Tampa Bay. His first full season in “The Show” produced a team rookie-record 24 goals with 26 assists. That earned him a top-three finish (with Palat) in rookie-of-the-year voting. After Tampa Bay was out of the playoffs, he joined the U.S. team in Belarus for the Ice Hockey Federation World Championships. His sophomore season has been much the same. He had 48 points on 17 goals and 31 assists to put him among the league leaders and he leads the Lightning, who have spent much of the season near the top of the Eastern Conference. So why do teams happen to win when Johnson is on the roster? Lightning coach John Cooper, who was coaching at Norfolk when Johnson arrived, had a wry laugh when asked. “I think if you can answer that question, everybody would be trying to replicate that,” he said. “When it comes right down to it, it’s his drive and desire. He’s an undersized player that has always had to rise above the rest to get where he is now.” Johnson may be undersized, but he’s not unappreciated by those who are part of Johnson’s winning legacy. Chris Bruton, the captain on the Memorial Cup champions, said he was impressed by Johnson from the start. “From an early age he was always doubted, but he built a foundation on hard work, discipline and doing all the little things,” said Bruton, who plays for Grand Rapids in the AHL. “When he came to the Chiefs he got put in the role of checking line center and he was just unbelievable. He’s got every piece of the puzzle: attitude, discipline, skills.” As coach of the Tri-City Americans, Don Nachbaur knew of Johnson and his defensive abilities, but he needed something different when he became the Chiefs’ coach. Nachbaur asked for scoring – and got 53 goals. “He’s highly driven, motivated, but he’s always about team, he puts the team first,” Nachbaur said. “No matter what he’s been asked to do he accepted it. That’s why he’s a great player.” Johnson and Palat, a seventh-round draft pick in 2011, became linemates in Norfolk, and the chemistry is obvious: Johnson’s scoring streak coincided with the Admirals’ run. “We’re really good friends,” Palat said. “We can talk about everything on the ice.” Dustin Tokarski was in goal for those AHL champions, as well as the Chiefs’ Memorial Cup and is now the backup in Montreal. He doesn’t recall when the light went on for Johnson in Norfolk. “We had a special team and he fit in real well. He’s a good guy on and off the ice,” Tokarski said. “I was probably oblivious as a goaltender that there was one moment.” He knew that when Johnson joined the Chiefs he was special. “His no-quit attitude,” Tokarski said. “He’s a small guy, he wasn’t picked up early, but when he signed on with us he was tremendous and he’s a tremendous person. Whatever it is that pushes Johnson, Morrow is impressed. “There are trends in hockey, it used to be if you were 6-foot-4, 6-5 you were going to be drafted early. The game has changed, speed and hockey IQ are definitely more important,” Morrow said. “Everything is done at a very high pace and when people get to speed, their hands or feet can’t keep up. Tyler makes plays while his feet are still moving. Their whole line is that way, but Tyler is the guy in the middle moving the puck.” In October, Nikita Kucherov, a second-round draft pick out of Russia in 2011, was added to the mix and the results have been nothing short of spectacular for what is considered the Lightning’s No. 3 line. Kucherov leads the team with a plus-28 and is third in points with 43 on 17 goals, just behind Johnson and captain Steve Stamkos (26-18–44). Palat has 11 goals and 35 points for fourth. The Triplets not only lead Tampa Bay in plus-minus by a wide margin (Kucherov 28, Johnson 26, Palat 23), but they are the top three in the league. “I never doubted he would make it,” Nachbaur, an eight-year NHL veteran, said. With the long list of success – from getting gold for his hometown in the Memorial Cup or gold for his country in the World Juniors, or MVPs or All-Star games – Johnson remains humble. “It’s all a dream come true,” he said. “They’re all different. I’ve played with great players on good teams with tremendous coaching. I’ve been lucky. It’s been a great journey.” Johnson’s reaction was similar when Tampa Bay general manager Steve Yzerman pulled him aside after a game to share the news that he was going to be an All-Star, along with Lightning captain Steve Stamkos, who was the first overall pick in 2008. “At first I kind of thought I was in trouble,” Johnson said. “I didn’t know what to think. I was excited, I was stunned. I was humbled.” Two days later he was hurt, but the thought of missing the All-Star game never entered his mind. “I was more upset I missed (the next) game,” he said. “The All-Star game is nice, but it’s just for fun.” But for some reason, the belief is his team will win.