Bruins sign former Spokane Chiefs star Tyler Johnson to tryout agreement
![Former Spokane Chiefs standout Tyler Johnson played three seasons with Chicago after winning back-to-back Stanley Cups with Tampa Bay. (Tribune News Service)](https://thumb.spokesman.com/uO6q6eDqVn9RLDznlEJuDvMVKgE=/600x0/media.spokesman.com/graphics/2018/07/sr-loader.png)
The Boston Bruins signed 34-year-old center Tyler Johnson – a former Spokane Chiefs standout – to a professional tryout agreement over the weekend.
While he spent the last three years with a rebuilding Chicago Blackhawks team, Johnson was very much a part of the Tampa Bay Lightning’s surge to become one of the NHL’s elite teams in the last decade, culminating with Stanley Cups in the 2020 and 2021.
At 5-foot-8, 185 pounds, Johnson would be a departure from the Bruins’ recent inclination toward size on the roster, though his undersized frame didn’t stop Johnson from raising the Cup twice.
Johnson, a Spokane native who led the Chiefs to a Memorial Cup win in 2008, had his No. 9 jersey retired by Spokane in 2022.
Johnson topped 40 points four times with the Lightning. His best year came in 2014-15 when he had 29-43-72 totals. He also scored 29 goals in 2018-19 when the 62-16–0-4 Bolts sprinted to the Presidents’ Trophy only to be bounced in the first round.
In Chicago last season, Johnson had 17-14-31 totals.
The tryout agreement does not guarantee Johnson a spot on the roster.