How Blue Jackets’ Kent Johnson and Nick Blankenburg took wildly different paths to Michigan and then the NHL
Kent Johnson and Nick Blankenburg officially joined the Blue Jackets on Friday. They are the second and third draft picks of the organization. Johnson played left wing for two years at Michigan and with Team Canada at the Olympics. He is expected to make his NHL debut on Wednesday against Montreal. The Blue Jacket's are days away from being eliminated from the Stanley Cup playoffs. The rest of this season is about building the team's future. Boone Jenner is week-to-week with a back injury, and Sean Kuraly is in the NHL's COVID-19 protocol. Brad Larsen has Johnson skating on a line with center Justin Danforth and right winger Oliver Bjorkstrand.
Nick Blankenburg signed a contract with the Blue Jackets. Blankenberg is unsure if he will make his debut on Wednesday. He was skating outside the top six at practice on Monday. He wants to play a physical game. It comes from his childhood.
