Flyers Draft Options: Forward Kent Johnson

The 2021 NHL Entry Draft is set to be chaotic. The shortening or outright cancelling of so many of the junior league’s seasons has led to a fresh crop of players entering the draft this year with scouting that can seem dubious at best. And that could really help the Flyers, as quality players can slip out of the top ten to 13, where the team can scoop them up.

With no consensus on who will or won’t go in the first round, mocking where players will go is hard, if not impossible, to do. The draft is always somewhat of a roll of the dice, but this year especially is set up in such a way that anyone can go anywhere, so I can hold out hope that some of the big names may fall.

And that’s we’re talking about one of my absolute favorites today. Kent Johnson is a forward out of the University of Michigan, a former teammate of Flyers prospect Cam York, who scored 27 points in 26 games in his freshman season with the Wolverines, in a season that saw the U of M shut down in the NCAA Playoffs due to COVID violations.

Johnson was second on the team in points come season’s end, outsourcing fellow Michigan forward Matthew Beniers, who is also expected to go high in this coming draft. Johnson was rated as the third best North American skater according to NHL Central Scouting, and often finds himself mocked between 8-10, but should he drop, Johnson has more than enough tools to be the next great Flyers center.

Johnson has the moxie and IQ to put together brilliant offensive plays, and his skating allows for him to win puck races due to some elite speed. Great hands and a high quality shot also add to his incredible offensive arsenal that would theoretically allow for him to take over on the powerplay, as well as on 5-on-5.

Defensively Johnson is no slouch either, being smart in his own end from a positional standpoint, while also being constantly ready to break out of the defensive zone on the rush that would enable him to put that speed and elite offensive skillset to use.

So with all of these glowing reviews it begs the question why I think he could possibly fall to 13, especially when he’s not currently expected to drop that far, and I can answer that with two very simple words: “He’s small”. Despite being listed at 6’1”, which is fairly average for an NHL forward, Johnson weighs in at a measly 165 pounds, way underweight for a player in the NHL, especially a center.

He can easily be bullied off pucks in both zones due to having so little muscle, and while his raw talent allows him to dominate the NCAA, playing against men will prove a huge challenge to him if he can’t put on the weight. If he isn’t able to put on enough to find himself able to dominate as a center, his extensive experience playing on the wing should allow for him to see time sooner as he works on the muscle.

This draft is noteworthy for most experts saying that no player is expected to step directly into the NHL as they have in years past, and a player like Johnson is certainly an example of that. Johnson will need some time to cook, predominantly putting on that weight, but his small frame may actually help the Flyers, as it may lead to him dropping a few more spots that could allow for them to snag themselves a gem. Just take a look at these highlights. I’ve never been sure what “it” is when people talk about players, but if anyone has “it”, it’s him.