[RELATED: Stars 2021 NHL Draft Central]
On the international stage, the Toronto native helped Team Canada earn a gold medal at the 2021 IIHF Under-18 World Championship (held at Comerica Center and Children's Health StarCenter Plano) with four points (two goals, two assists) in seven games. Johnston, 18, also skated for Canada Red at the 2019 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge where he co-led the team with five points (three goals, two assists) in five games.
"He's in a good spot in his career," said Stars general manager Jim Nill. "He's got very good skills. He's shown that. He's also a very responsible player. At the Under-18s, because he hadn't played much when he made the team, the coaches asked him, 'You know what? The other guys have been playing more. They put him in a third-line role. He accepted that and played it well. He still got power-play time because of that. He's got a lot of tools to work with. His scoring will come on even more. We just think he's a very well-rounded player that has a lot of upside."
Johnston entered the draft as the No. 16-ranked North American skater.