NoVa Caps Alumni of the Week: Brent Johnson

Al Bello/Getty Images

Starting today for the rest of the season, NoVa Caps will feature a Capitals alumni every Monday as the alumni of the week. This week: goaltender Brent Johnson.

Brent Johnson was claimed off waivers from the Vancouver Canucks by the Capitals on October 4, 2005, to become the backup to starter Olaf Kolzig. The grandson of the legendary Sid Abel, Johnson began his NHL career by being drafted by the Colorado Avalanche in the fifth-round (129th overall) of the 1995 NHL Entry Draft. However, Johnson never played a game for Colorado, as he was traded to St. Louis in 1997. He then spent time with the Canucks after his St. Louis career before being claimed by the Caps.

Photo: Yahoo Sports

Johnson’s first season with Washington was a tough one. In 26 games played, Johnson went 9-12-1 with a save percentage of .905 and a goals-against average (GAA) of 3.44 with just one shutout. However, his stats cannot be blamed entirely on him, as the Caps struggled as a team, finishing the season with a record of 29-41-12.

Johnson struggled over the next two seasons, going just 13-23-9 over 49 games; in those two seasons he finished with goals-against averages of 3.61 and 2.67, and save percentages of .889 and .908, respectively.

In his fourth and final season with the Caps, Johnson had his best season in his time in D.C., going 12-6-2 in 21 games. A free agent after the season, Johnson signed with the Pittsburgh Penguins, where he would finish his playing career after three seasons in the Black and Gold.

Over his four years as a Capital, Johnson went 34-41-12, with a save percentage of .901 and GAA of 3.21 in 96 games played. After his playing days were over, Johnson has worked as an in-studio analyst for Comcast Sportsnet MidAtlantic for Caps games, offering his insight on the Caps’ play, goaltending in particular.

For more Alumni-related reading, check out these past articles!:
Looking Back on the Capitals Career of Craig Laughlin
Interview: Langway’s Legacy – A Culture of Success for the Washington Capitals

By Michael Fleetwood