Wyatt Johnston doesn't turn 20 until May, yet he's much older than that in terms of experience.
The Stars rookie has aged years in his first 58 NHL games, and now he looks like a polished veteran, earning praise as one of the team's best players on many nights.
Wyatt Johnston's confidence grows alongside veteran Joe Pavelski
The 19-year-old forward now sits seventh in scoring on the team with 24 points
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"He just keeps getting better and better," Stars coach Pete DeBoer said. "Like all young players, you keep waiting for him to kind of hit the wall, like a lot of guys have at different points, and it just hasn't happened to him. He keeps finding another level to go to, and he does it at the important times of the game. When the game is on the line, he finds some extra juice and that's the sign of a really great player."
Director of Amateur Scouting for the Stars, Joe McDonnell, had done his work on Johnston. After playing 53 games in his first year of junior hockey, the Ontario native had to sit out because COVID shut down the OHL for a year. Johnston said he used the time to work on his strength and skating, and the Stars decided to take a chance on him in the 2021 draft. A strong performance in the 2021 IIHF Under 18 World Championships in Frisco sealed the deal and Johnston was scooped up with the 23rd overall pick by Dallas.
The move looked brilliant, as Johnston led the OHL in scoring with 124 points (46 goals, 78 assists) in 68 games and followed that up with an even more impressive playoff performance for Windsor, tallying 41 points (14 goals, 27 assists) in 25 postseason games.
This sparked the discussion of whether or not he was ready for the NHL. He looked pretty good in the Traverse City Prospect Tournament in September and then was solid in the NHL preseason. An agreement between the NHL and the CHL says a player who is under the age of 20 must make the NHL roster or be returned to his junior team, so there was no AHL option for Johnston this season. However, there is a nine-game tryout period before the NHL contract kicks in, so the Stars had a safety net.
They didn't need it though.
Johnston proved himself worthy quite quickly and he now sits seventh in scoring on the team with 24 points (13 goals, 11 assists). The 13 goals have him ranked fifth among NHL rookies. The 24 points put him ninth. That's impressive, especially when you consider he could hit at a higher pace down the stretch run.
"He's definitely gaining more confidence," said forward Joe Pavelski. "You learn you can play the game and understand you can go into battles against these guys, that you're strong enough. He's a smart player, a good skater, he's slippery coming out of corners and making plays. You can just see his confidence growing."
Johnston is living with Pavelski and his family, and that's been a great setup for his rookie season. Pavelski is 38 and has played more than 1,200 regular season games. He's seen it all, and he's able to offer some tips to Johnston.
"It's just little conversations," said Pavelski, who joined a San Jose Sharks team in 2006 who had strong leadership in Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau. "I remember these little situations that I went through along the way. He'll ask questions and I'll try to help out and we'll work through it together."
Johnston said the entire family experience has been huge for him.
"It's been really good," Johnston said. "Everyone knows what Joe is like, but his wife Sarah and his son, Nate, have been great to me. They make me feel at home and feel comfortable. It's a lot of fun."
DeBoer said the setup is great for everyone.
"I think it's been critical for him," the coach said. "He's learning how to be a pro from one of the best pros that has played the game."
It's almost funny now to look back at the debate when Johnston was on the bubble of making the roster. He has improved his faceoff percentage, he's starting to kill penalties, he's looking more comfortable every day.
"He's worked hard," Pavelski said. "He's earned everything he's got."
And he's just getting started.
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Hockey League or Dallas Stars Hockey Club.
Mike Heika is a Senior Staff Writer for DallasStars.com and has covered the Stars since 1994. Follow him on Twitter @MikeHeika.