Johnston ties Stars' record for rookie goal scoring

Pete DeBoer has the perfect observation when it comes to 19-year-old rookie Wyatt Johnston.
"I just look at where he is and I think, Jason Robertson was in the OHL at this age, Joe Pavelski was at the University of Wisconsin, Roope Hintz was just starting his AHL career," The Stars coach said. "To see what Wyatt is doing at age 19 in the NHL, it's really special."
Johnston on Thursday scored his 24th goal. That's tied for the NHL lead in rookie goal scoring and tied for the most by any Stars rookie since the team moved to Texas in 1993. Johnston is the third youngest player to suit up for Dallas, with only Valeri Nichushkin and Miro Heiskanen being younger.

Both of those players came from overseas, so the pressure to get them into the NHL wasn't as intense. If they needed to go to the minors, they could have. Johnston played in the OHL last season, and under the rules of an agreement between the NHL and the Canadian Hockey League, Johnston had to make it in the NHL or go back to junior hockey.
After 41 points in 82 games, the debate seems silly now. Johnston will likely be a member of the All-Rookie Team and has established himself as a key piece to a Stars team who posted 108 points. He is centering what is arguably the team's second line between Jamie Benn and Evgenii Dadonov, and he is expanding his role as the team goes deeper into the season.
Before the All-Stars Break, Johnston was averaging 14:49 in ice time and was scoring at a clip of 0.43 points per game. Since then, he's pushed his time on ice to 16:33 and his points per game to 0.63.
"I just find myself continuing to play him more," DeBoer said after Johnston had the only goal in a 1-0 win over St. Louis on Thursday. "I used him on the penalty kill tonight, I used him in the last minute of the game. He's a young player, and he's not supposed to be strong, but he wins most of his battles and he's getting to be above average at faceoffs. He just keeps getting better. An amazing season he's had, amazing."
Johnston was drafted 23rd overall in 2021. He is listed as 6-1, 185. Johnston had to sit out the season before his draft because Covid shut down the OHL. He responded very nicely when play resumed with 124 points (46 goals, 78 assists) in 68 games last year, and that's probably why he got his chance this year. But he didn't really kick down the door before the season. He was good at the Prospects Tournament in Traverse City, Michigan and he was good in preseason, but not remarkable.
However, GM Jim Nill showed faith in Johnston, and by the time his nine-game tryout was over, it was clear he was sticking around.
"He just keeps getting better and better," DeBoer said earlier in the season. "It always surprises me when a young player with junior eligibility comes into this league and has any kind of success. You're hoping you can put him on the ice and just have him survive. To have a young guy like that come in and contribute on a nightly basis, it's really rare."
Johnston said he is feeling more comfortable. He has been living with Joe Pavelski and his family, and that has helped him take this step. But the game on the ice is where he's really learned. It's not just a dream anymore, it's his job.
"It's been awesome," Johnston said. "I've tried to make the most of every minute I've been here. It's been fun, and it's gone by quick."
Because DeBoer likes to balance his lines and doesn't really protect his players, Johnston has found himself on the ice against the best players in the league like Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon.
"I want to compete against the best players," he said. "I think that's what it's all about. It's fun to go against some of the top guys like McDavid and MacKinnon."
That said, it has been a process. To put a 19-year-old in against the best players in the world will create a few hiccups.
"When I first came in, just the speed and how good the game really is," he said. "You don't really understand how high the level is until you experience it. And then how good some of these top players are. You see them on TV, and you're like `Wow, they're good,' but you don't get to really experience it until you play against them."
Johnston has earned the respect of his teammates in the process. He had a five-game goal scoring streak back in March, and then went cold for nine games. However, he responded with three goals in the final two games and showed that he knows how to work his way out of a slump.
"You can see that true goal scoring in him where he gets hot for a few games and then gets cold and then gets hot again," said forward Tyler Seguin. "That's just an experienced goal scorer there, and it's great to have him hot right now."
The Stars will start the playoffs on Monday, and Johnston will be a big part of the game plan. He has already navigated one big step, and the belief is he can definitely handle the next.
"It's exciting, how good of a team we have, and going into the playoffs my first year," Johnston said. "We have a great opportunity here."
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