2024-25 Player Review: Jack Johnson’s last ride?

Apr 3, 2025; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Jack Johnson (3) during the first period at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russell LaBounty-Imagn ImagesWhen Jack Johnson first became a member of the Columbus Blue Jackets, the franchise was at its nadir. A blockbuster trade for Jeff Carter quickly turned sour, and Johnson was a big piece of the return when Carter was dispatched to Los Angeles. Captain Rick Nash would follow Carter out the door a few months later after a trade request of his own.

Even though he was traded away from a team that ended up winning the Stanley Cup that spring, Johnson never expressed resentment. He recognized there was a leadership void in…