Blue Jackets 2024 season preview, Jack Johnson returns to Columbus as depth and a mentor to a young blueline

Jack Johnson is a Stanley Cup champion.

Getting the meme out of the way, Jack first joined the Blue Jackets during the 2011-12 season. He returned as part of the Jeff Carter trade, which sent Carter to the Los Angeles Kings. Carter would end up winning two Stanley Cups during his time in LA. Jack had to wait a little longer, getting his name written on the cup in 2022 with the Colorado Avalanche.

Now, after six long years, Jack has returned. Much has changed in Columbus since he last stepped on Nationwide's ice in the Union Blue. The only two remaining on-ice players from that team are Boone Jenner and Zach Werenski.

Elsewhere, Mark Letestu is now a player development coach within the organization. Jack is older and isn't a point producer at this stage in his career. So, why did the Jackets bring him back, and what can we expect from him? I think Jack himself said it best.

There are a lot of young guys, and I’m going to try to be the best example and role model I can be. I’ve been around a lot of great leaders in my career.

I’m going to try to apply all those things toward helping this group out, on and off the ice. That’s the meal room, the weight room, having young guys over for dinner … whatever I can do to help.”

I wouldn't be surprised if Johnson will be handled as the "Seventh" D-man on the 23-man roster. This frees up a spot on the blueline to allow someone like Jake Christiansen or Denton Mateychuk. They can play fourteen or more minutes a night and gain experience next to other team vets like Erik Gudbranson and Damon Severson.

However, Dean Evason has never shied away from mixing up his lines and pairings, so don't be shocked if you see Jack as a starter at some point this season.

Now nineteen years into his NHL career, Johnson is mainly considered a "defensive defenseman." While his on-ice numbers don't always look great, Jack oddly had an on-ice goal % that was 7.2% higher than his expected on-ice goal %, per MoneyPuck.com.

He's not a player you can rely upon to take up the quarterback position on the powerplay or even lead a penalty kill, but his 5v5 numbers are right around where they likely should be for a 38-year-old third-pairing defenseman.

Ultimately, if Jack fills his ideal role of being organizational depth and helping to set a Stanley Cup-level standard in the locker room, he'll be more than worthy of the contract that brought him back to Arch City. Jack mentioned he might like to retire in Columbus, so enjoy him while we have him, Jackets fans.

One bold prediction: Johnson will play less than 30 games this season.

This might be more of a wish of mine than a prediction, but with how he played at the end of last year, I feel you have to give Jake Christiansen a full-time shot with the big club at this point. He'll be a UFA at the end of the season.

But, if he starts playing at a high level, you can either work on an extension or see what the market might look like. I don't feel playing Johnson with high minutes does the team any good, on the ice or with their goal of developing their talent.