USNTDP: Jack Johnson QA, Part One

Part 1 | Part 2

A TASTE OF THE FUTURE

McKeen's: You played in the charity game last week in Ann Arbor, MI to benefit Mott's Children's Hospital. The opposition featured the likes of Nick Lidstrom, Steve Yzerman, Chris Chelios, Sergei Fedorov, Sergei Samsonov and more. How fun was that game for you?

Jack Johnson: It was unbelievable – like a pond hockey dream. Going out there against Fedorov, Yzerman and Samsonov, all on one line, it was unbelievable. Being able to be a stick-length away from arguably the best defenseman in the world in Nick Lidstrom was unreal.

McKeen's:Did you have a chance to chat with any of them?

Johnson: After the game we did. I spent a while talking with Nick Lidstrom, Sergei Fedorov, Chris Tamer and a bunch of guys.

In between periods they were in the Michigan locker room, which was up on the second level and ours was on the first level.

McKeen's:What kinds of things did you talk to Lidstrom about?

Johnson:Things like asking him if he's going to stick around or go back to Sweden... just kind of wondering about his thoughts on the lockout and really anything else I could think of. I was just amazed that I was talking to this guy.

McKeen's:What kind of role did your dad, who played in the NHL (Drafted by Chicago and played for Montreal and the Rangers), play in turning you into the hockey player you are today?

Johnson: He's the only reason I'm where I am. He's taught me everything.

McKeen's:The closer we get to the draft, the more media attention you're going to get. Do you think you're ready to handle it and keep your focus on the ice? Has your dad talked with you about this at all?

Johnson: Yeah, and he's really taught me that with any success I get to take it in stride, to put everything in perspective and never stray away from your dreams and goals. At a time like this you only get one shot and you don't want to look back and have regrets or anything. You don't want to say to yourself, "if only I worked a little harder or didn't get distracted". This is too important to get distracted.

McKeen's:One thing scouts talk about when it comes to your game is your speed. How much of a role do you think it plays in your success?

Johnson: My dad has always brought me up saying speed kills. The game of hockey is all about speed and to me it's extremely important. I think my style of game is based on a fast pace and being at high speed through the whole shift and never slowing down. I think it plays a huge role.

McKeen's:Going back to the charity game, you had a chance to skate against some NHL talent. They may not have been in their peak physical condition because of the lockout, but how do you think your speed compares with them at this point?

Johnson: I actually felt great out there. I felt just as big as most of the guys. When I was talking to Lidstrom, I was eye-to-eye with him. Speed-wise, I felt good out there. Having guys like Fedorov chasing you on the back-check, I was really moving then.

JACK-HAMMERING THE OPPOSITION

McKeen's:You play a solid physical game too. Do you think that helps to create some open ice for you out there?

Johnson: Yeah, I've always been taught to hit with everything you've got and don't leave anything back. I definitely think it puts a mentality in the other team, so it probably gives me that extra second or that extra little bit I need to make a play and I think it helps a lot.

McKeen's:No matter which level of hockey you're playing at, there are good penalties and bad penalties to take. In your estimation, what percentage of your PIM's come from bad penalties and do you think you need to do anything to work on that?

Johnson: I think there's always stuff you need to work on. Any offensive penalty I've ever taken is a bad penalty. Every player makes mistakes and I'll be the first to say I've taken bad penalties before. This year I've gotten a lot of boarding, charging and roughing penalties and a lot of people would say those are good penalties – just hard-nosed, tough penalties.

I'll be the first one to say I've taken a dumb penalty here and there, but I think the majority of them are good, hard-nosed penalties. I had a penalty against a college just two weeks ago where the ref gave me a penalty and I asked what was wrong. He just flat-out told me I hit the kid so hard, he just had to give me a penalty.

ICE CUBES HAVE NOTHING ON HIM

McKeen's:What do you think you do well on the power play when you're at the point?

Johnson: I'm very relaxed out there. I feel comfortable out there on the point and I kind of make a game out of it and try to outsmart the penalty killers. When I get the puck I try to look them off or give them a head-fake. I feel comfortable out there though – in charge at the point.

McKeen's:So if you're a guy who stays calm under pressure and you compare that with the little bit of experience you had against the NHL guys in that charity game, do you think that calmness will help you succeed at the next level?

Johnson: I think I'm getting more mature every year and I think it's more a mental game than anything. Hockey is all about confidence and as I keep going, I get more and more confident. I felt great with those guys out there. One thing I've noticed at the NHL level is how they always hit the trailer. Their puck movement is unreal. A lot of their game is patience – waiting for the guy to get open. I felt good out there – not forcing anything, just looking for the easy play and the right play. Sometimes I was able to bring the puck all the way up the ice because the forward peeled off, so I was just patient.

I think it won't be too much a problem. Just take it slow and I'll be able to keep moving up slowly.

McKeen's:Defensemen generally take longer to get to the NHL than other positions – especially offensive defensemen. Generally they don't hit their stride in the NHL until they're 22 or 23 or so. How close to NHL-ready do you feel you are at this point – especially having just played against some NHL talent?

Johnson: My dad and I agree that you can never have enough leg strength. If you keep developing your skills, everything else will come. I spent the whole summer working on my leg strength and I'll just keep doing the same thing. Hockey is pretty much all about your lower body and your skills. You can't really teach skills at this point in your life – you either have it or you don't – so I think it's important for me to keep working on perfecting my skills, strength and quickness. I think that's the most important thing. Everything else comes with experience and you can't teach the other stuff.

McKeen's:So what kinds of things do you do to work on your leg strength? Do you go to power skating schools at all?

Johnson: No, I do a lot of off-ice stuff, usually by myself and I think of a lot of things to motivate myself. I do Plyometrics, sprinting, sprints up hills, sprinting on the track and those Plyometrics to build explosiveness.

McKeen's:Tell us about the decision to play for US NTDP this year and if your game has been helped by it so far.

Johnson: I got the offer to play for them and I just knew right away that it was the right thing. I couldn't turn down the opportunity to represent my country and I just had a gut feeling that was where I needed to go for the next level and play against the college guys right here in Ann Arbor, being right by the University of Michigan.

McKeen's:And so did that play into your decision as well -- because you're going to University of Michigan next year, right?

Johnson: Yes and they told me this was probably the best place for the next step in my development. I get to play colleges and basically get in a freshman year before my freshman year and step in right away and contribute.

I've developed physically here with the weight training better than I ever would have and I think that's helped me out a lot.

EDUCATION IMPORTANT

McKeen's:So then let's say the NHL season gets saved and you get drafted this summer. You go to the University of Michigan, but what's the plan then? Do you want to complete the four years there before you go the NHL, or do you just want to play it year-by-year?

Johnson: I'll probably just see what happens. I'll be talking to the coaches at Michigan and we'll just see what the best thing is. I'll talk to the coaches, take advice from my parents – they're the ones that I trust the most.

McKeen's:So how important is the education factor then? If you're in the minors or the NHL before the end of those four years at Michigan, would you take classes in the summer to finish your degree, or how would you work that? Maybe put it off until the end of your career?

Johnson: I'll definitely graduate at some point in my life and I will definitely graduate from the University of Michigan. That's a huge deal to me because there's always that 'what if' and I'm going to need something to fall back on because crazy stuff happens.

My dream ever since I was a little kid was the maize and blue and skating out on that rink. I'm definitely looking forward to it.

McKeen's:Speaking of that then, have you got any ideas about what you might like to do if hockey doesn't work out?

Johnson: Hopefully, if I can, I would like to get into the Michigan Business School. I'm sure it'll be a challenge because it's one of the top business schools in the country.