USNTDP: Jack Johnson QA, Part Two

Part 1 | Part 2

CHELLY PLAYED A ROLE

McKeen's:Who were some of your favorite NHL defensemen growing up and who have you tried to pattern your game after, if anyone?

Jack Johnson: Growing up, my favorite NHL defenseman was Chris Chelios. I had a Blackhawks #7 jersey that I wore every time I skated and I just thought he was the best in the world.

McKeen's:So how huge was that for you at the charity game, getting to talk to him?

Johnson: It was awesome, so cool. He was playing center in the game, just messing around and I remember skating up to him and he slashed me and I thought it was the greatest thing in the world. (Laughs). It was awesome.

But growing up -- Chris Chelios. Now, I think Nick Lidstrom, Blake – I try to piece together the best of all of them. There's actually one player I thought I played the most like and that was Keith Ballard from Minnesota. Now, I just try to take the best from everyone and become the most complete defenseman I can. There are a lot of guys that are great offensively, but they're not really physical. Or they're physical, but not great offensively. I try to piece together both and be a great, all-around defenseman.

McKeen's:Do you think some of the intensity from your game comes from admiring Chelios and watching what he does?

Johnson: Oh yeah. I remember especially when he was with Chicago how he was just in everyone's face. Everyone hated them, but you knew that secretly they wished he was on their team.

THE CROSBY SHOW

McKeen's:You've surely put in a lot of hard work to put yourself in a position where you're not only the top ranked defenseman for the draft, but also the highest-rated American. We know you have a long way to go and you want to prove yourself at the NHL level, but do you get any satisfaction from your effort to this point?

Johnson: Yeah, I do. It's been something that's been in the back of my mind the whole year. I'm really good friends with Sidney Crosby and we talk all the time to see how each other is doing and maybe we'll go together at the draft. It's been quite an accomplishment so far.

McKeen's:How great would that be if you and Sidney went 1-2 in the draft?

Johnson: We were together at the L.A. Kings rookie camp and we talked about that and set that as a goal as the high bar to reach and we'll see if everything works out.

McKeen's:Obviously with Sidney there's a lot of hype around him, including getting that huge praise from Wayne Gretzky. Two questions about him: 1) what do you think it is about his game that puts him at that level and 2) how about Sidney off the ice? I've heard you mention before about what a great guy he is away from the rink too.

Johnson: Sid is probably the most complete athlete I've ever seen in my life and he's just an awesome guy to be around. You could spend an entire day with him and you'd never know he's the hockey player he is. He wouldn't even bring it up – he'd just get to know you as a person. He's just the best guy and the ultimate team guy.

As a hockey player, he's the most complete forward in the draft. To me, he's just head and shoulders above the rest. I've played against a lot of these guys, even the ones ranked in the top ten and played with some of them. He's just explosive – unreal with the puck. He can find you anywhere on the ice with the puck. He's got a great shot. He just does everything well. I think one of the things that separates him from everyone else the most is his strength in his legs and everything. You just can't knock him off the puck – he's just resilient and he just keeps coming. If he battles in the corner, he's going to have the puck when he comes out. He's just a pain to play against.

GOLD WAS TEAM EFFORT

McKeen's:What was the key to going 4-0-0 and winning the Gold in the Four Nations Cup? What did Team USA did that the others didn't?

Johnson: I think we just came out with in-your-face hockey and didn't give them any time to breathe. We tried to finish every check and pretty much play a Canadian style of hockey – just be in their faces and intimidate them a lot. I think that's a big factor. I also think we were just the bigger, stronger team.

McKeen's:In a couple of sentences each, give us your impressions of some of your teammates and what sets them apart from so many players:

McKeen's:Phil Kessel:

Johnson: He's got great speed. He's a great skater. He uses his speed very effectively and when he gets winding up and someone can hit him with a pass, he's very effective. That's his big strength. Like I said, speed kills and he knows how to use it.

McKeen's:Jack Skille:

Johnson: He's a great, determined player. If he decides he's going to go right up the wall, he's going to run you over if he has to. He's got a great shot and he tries to use his speed very well.

McKeen's:Ryan Stoa:

Johnson: He's probably the most skilled forward on the team. In terms of puck-handling, he's a great playmaker. He can set you up with an awesome pass or snipe a goal from pretty much anywhere. He uses his size effectively too.

McKeen's:Justin Mercier:

Johnson: Mercier is a hard-working, hard-nosed kid. He gets in there and does it, whether it looks pretty or not. He gets it done and he tries to do everything as hard as he can.

McKeen's:How important is international play for you personally and do you anticipate saying yes to your country during your career when possible?

Johnson: Yes. If I'm asked, I'd always be honored to wear the red, white and blue down the line for World Cups -- or my dream has always been the Olympics, so for tournaments like that I would definitely do it.

McKeen's:The fact that you were left off the Team USA roster for the WJC was pretty surprising. On a positive note, it clearly speaks volumes about the depth of talent available and the state of hockey in the U.S., but it has to be a bit disappointing to not be selected.

Johnson: It was kind of a bummer. When I found out I wasn't selected, I was like 'yeah, all right, whatever'. I went to the camp and I feel like I had a good showing. I tried my hardest and felt like I didn't leave any stone unturned. It was out of my hands and they just felt like I wasn't the right fit for the team and I understand that. There's always next year and I'll just go back at it next year. I just take it in stride and I have to keep working hard this year.

McKeen's:And it really seems like it wasn't a knock on you. There's also just so much talent available because of the NHL lockout this year, where some guys that normally wouldn't be there are there too. Speaking of that, do you have an opinion as to which country might have the advantage because of the lockout talent available?

Johnson: I think the teams to beat this year, truthfully, will be Canada and Russia. With Alexander Ovechkin, Patrice Bergeron and all of those guys, the skill level will be unbelievable. I'll obviously be cheering for USA and hopefully we can bring home the gold on home ice.

There's a reason why Canada is Canada and Russia is Russia and it's because they keep producing teams like that.