NEWSLETTER
It has been a very long time since we have seen Tyler Johnson with the Chicago Blackhawks. Did you forget about him? I nearly did. Johnson has been out of the lineup since the end of October, last playing on October 29. He was out due to neck issues, then COVID protocol, and then he had full-on neck surgery in early December. He started skating with the team again later that month, and now, without contact restrictions, Johnson is back entirely with the Blackhawks.
Tyler Johnson (neck) is practicing in full. He’s skating as an extra, but looks like full contact is a go. No restrictions. #Blackhawks
— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) February 8, 2022
Johnson had ADR neck surgery in December, the same as Jack Eichel had after joining the Vegas Golden Knights. He and Eichel were the first two NHL players to have the surgery, coming a few weeks apart, and are now both rejoining their teams on relatively similar timeframes.
Johnson has been missed from the Blackhawks’ lineup. Even though he only has three points in his eight games this season, all pre-dating interim head coach Derek King taking over the team, Johnson’s ability to play up and down the middle of the lineup has been missed by a Blackhawks team that was already thin at the center position. With Jonathan Toews still in concussion protocol, Johnson’s eventual return to the lineup is coming at just the right time.
Chicago is back in action tomorrow night as they head over the border to face the Edmonton Oilers on the road.
