The Columbus Blue Jackets have signed Kent Johnson to a National Hockey League (NHL) Entry Level contract after they selected Johnson in the first round, 5th overall at the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.
Johnson spent the 2017/18 season in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League (CSSHL) with the BWC Academy U18 Prep team. Johnson would finish tied for the league lead in scoring with 75 points in 35 CSSHL games.
The Port Moody, BC forward would join the Trail Smoke Eaters for the 2018/19 British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) season, finishing with 46 points in 57 games, while being named to the BCHL All-Rookie Team.
Johnson would have a monster 2019/20 BCHL season, leading the league in goals (41), assists (60) and assists (101), winning the BCHL Most Sportsmanlike Player and BCHL Most Valuable Player, while being named to the BCHL First Team All-Star, and capturing the CJHL Top Forward award.
In 2020/21 Johnson would join NCAA Division I program, the University of Michigan. In 26 games Johnson would finish with 27 points on way to being named to the NCAA (B1G) All-Rookie Team and NCAA (B1G) Honorable Mention All-Star Team.
This season, Johnson would play 32 games, finishing with 8 goals and 29 assists for the University of Michigan.