Johnson, Jimmy
Date of Death: 2021-05-21Date of Birth: 1942-11-07
Date of Induction: 1995
Born in Winnipeg, the 5-foot-9 Johnson had a 3 year junior hockey standout for the MJHL Winnipeg Rangers. Joining the Sudbury Wolves (EPHL) in 1962, he would make his NHL debut with the New York Rangers in the 1964/65 season.
After six seasons in the minors, the Philadelphia Flyers selected him from the Rangers with the 75th pick of the 1967 NHL Expansion Draft. Primarily playing for the Flyers' original American Hockey League farm team, the Quebec Aces, Johnson racked up 72 points in 59 games during the 1967-68 season before moving up for good to the NHL roster.
On Jan. 28, 1972, Johnson was part of an eight-player trade between the Flyers and LA Kings. The Flyers sent forward Serge Bernier, forward Bill Lesuk, defenseman Larry Brown and Johnson to the Kings in exchange for left winger Ross Lonsberry, right winger "Cowboy" Bill Flett, center Eddie Joyal and defenseman Jean Potvin.
Johnson played 28 games for the Kings over the remainder of the 1971-72 season, chipping in eight goals and 17 points. The next year, Johnson joined the Minnesota Fighting Saints in the fledgling World Hockey Association, scoring the first goal in the team's history. Johnson retired after three-and-a-half seasons with the Fighting Saints and a half season with the WHA Indianapolis Racers.
His pro career totals are 849 games, 240 goals, 433 assists, 673 points.