Dating back to last season in U15 play and when he played up with the '08, Johnson has jumped off the page in every viewing of the Marlboros, for obvious reasons, given the size. I've been watching him closely this year and while his play wasn't perfect over the Silver Stick, I thought it was some of the best I've seen from him, earning him a spot on my most recent list. His skating is coming along nicely, especially for his size he can maneuver around the ice quite well and can shift direction fluidly. The skating and size have been apparent since day one, but I thought he displayed way more patience and smart passing decisions within the offensive zone than I've previously noted. He was walking the line with confidence, taking his time to look for open teammates and moving pucks toward the slot, making for a more impressive performance. It's not the most glamorous evaluation, but things are just starting to fall into place for Jack, and I'm curious to see how he looks closer to the finish line.

Johnson had a really strong defensive game, applying pressure and being a suffocating presence on the ice. He was always aggressive on the defensive side, giving the Vaughan forwards no space to operate, and shut down many of their rush sequences. I thought he used his reach well, getting his stick in lanes, taking away options, and breaking up plays with his stick. Johnson has been one of the players I've been most impressed with in the second half of the year, greatly exceeding my expectations and skyrocketing up my rankings as a result. His mobility and fluidity have come a long ways, paired with the shutdown ability and puck-moving, he's worked his way into a group with some of my top ranked defenders.

Johnson was exceptional at applying pressure, getting in lanes, and taking away time and space, all to force turnover after turnover. I thought he was all-around very aggressive all of the ice, getting into attackers' space and smothering them. Especially in the neutral zone, Jack was challenging puck carriers early and thwarting their transitions in the middle of the ice. With the puck, he was a more than competent puck-mover, making for a well-rounded performance and one of the top defenders in this game.