Let’s talk about: Wyatt Johnston

[SeanMoneyHands]

This kid would already be a #1C on a lot of NHL teams.

 

[MrHeiskanen]

Injured, if I remember correctly.

Don't think so, he just played a 100+ game junior season though and wanted to make the Stars rather than play summer hockey.

 

[Starry Knight]

Don't think so, he just played a 100+ game junior season though and wanted to make the Stars rather than play summer hockey.

I could have sworn he had an injury the summer before his rookie season that affected his conditioning.

Could be misremembering though.

 

[Vinh]

He was excellent in Round 1. Wrote a quick piece about his Game 7 performance here: 2023-24 Playoff Focus: Wyatt Johnston (R1, GM7)

If you look at the chart that's included, you'll see his xG basically lapped the field yesterday. He just knows how to put himself in advantageous situations—and he can seemingly do it with any linemates.

Some highlights from Game 7:

Excited to watch him in Round 2. Colorado presents a very different challenge stylistically.

 

[starsfan86]

I could have sworn he had an injury the summer before his rookie season that affected his conditioning.

Could be misremembering though.

That was this season.

 

[RedHawkDown]

Losing Jim Nill to Dallas was the biggest loss Detroit has suffered in many years ,maybe ever.

 

[Hockeyville USA]

Hope he has a big game tonight. Rooting for the Stars very hard

 

[Hull Fan]

Let's absolutely talk about Wyatt. He was outstanding again tonight. Best player on the ice 2+1=Stars win again.

 

[HighLifeManIsHigh]

Let's absolutely talk about Wyatt. He was outstanding again tonight. Best player on the ice 2+1=Stars win again.

This guy is an absolute stud. Three points on the night and on the ice in the final minutes defending a lead. Kids a star (lol)

 

[Zbynek]

Conn Smythe dark horse

 

[Azzuri]

When was the last player comparable to something like this?

20 year old, D+2 player. PPG in the playoffs. Scoring clutch goals and also a beast on the PK and defensively. Trusted by his coach in all situations and is probably the best player on a stacked roster.

Gotta be some rare elite company. Even some of the best players at young ages weren't playoff performers yet.

 

[Regal]

When was the last player comparable to something like this?

20 year old, D+2 player. PPG in the playoffs. Scoring clutch goals and also a beast on the PK and defensively. Trusted by his coach in all situations and is probably the best player on a stacked roster.

Gotta be some rare elite company. Even some of the best players at young ages weren't playoff performers yet.

I was thinking Toews but even the Conference final run in ‘09 he wasn’t playing as much of a defensive role until the following year when they won.

 

[Hull Fan]

Hattip to @Ratbath for the stat but it was so good it needed to be shared beyond the Stars' board.

Only players with more playoff goals U21 than Wyatt are Jagr, Staal, Roenick and Sutter.

Those are some elite company. Obviously most U-21s don't play on conference winning teams but production doesn't lie.

 

[HighLifeManIsHigh]

Conn Smythe dark horse

Shit I think he’s a Conn Smythe front runner. If Dallas wins the cup, who else is even in the convo? Jake?

 

[serp]

Shit I think he’s a Conn Smythe front runner. If Dallas wins the cup, who else is even in the convo? Jake?

Heiskanen

 

[Hockeyville USA]

Rockstar

 

[Satan]

Shit I think he’s a Conn Smythe front runner. If Dallas wins the cup, who else is even in the convo? Jake?

Heiskanen is the best player on the Stars AINEC

 

[1Gold Standard]

Safe to say he has won a spot on a Team Canada best on best roster edition.

Looking forward to the 2026 Olympics and a third line of Byfield Johnston Bedard. Yes, please! Can have some more!

 

[Unspecified]

When was the last player comparable to something like this?

20 year old, D+2 player. PPG in the playoffs. Scoring clutch goals and also a beast on the PK and defensively. Trusted by his coach in all situations and is probably the best player on a stacked roster.

Gotta be some rare elite company. Even some of the best players at young ages weren't playoff performers yet.

I saw an interesting stat from last nights game that the only other player at age 20 to score a shorty and a PP goal in the same game was Gretzky and now Johnston.

 

[Perfect_Drug]

Sure wish he were an Oiler instead of... .. (checks notes) .. Xavier Bourgault who nobody wanted.

 

[Osakahaus]

boy am I glad my team didnt trade a 1st that year around that range

 

[saintunspecified]

This is one of those where a large number of people didn't predict Johnston would be the winning lottery ticket in that draft, but a lot of people did believe there would be someone. It seems pretty likely that if he had a pre-draft season, he'd have gone near the top. It's not unusual for players especially in the younger half of their draft classes to rise a lot that season as their physical development catches up. He looked even more like a beanpole last year. Between the ears players don't always develop enough physically to become stars. But when they do, watch out.

 

[SoulDynasty]

I’m a big Avs fan. Johnston is the best player playing in this series.

 

[Dr Pepper]

I saw an interesting stat from last nights game that the only other player at age 20 to score a shorty and a PP goal in the same game was Gretzky and now Johnston.

Yeah they mentioned Glen Wesley accomplishing it as well but it didn't count because apparently the game was never completed due to some power issue?

Not sure why that matters but I guess it does.

So, Wyatt and Wayne it is.

 

[NordiquesForeva]

I’m a big Avs fan. Johnston is the best player playing in this series.

I think the best player in this series has been Heiskanen, but Johnston is right behind him.